Steam frigates and the smaller steam corvettes, steam sloops, steam gunboats and steam schooners, were steam-powered warships that were not meant to stand in the line of battle. The first such ships were paddle steamers. Later on the invention of screw propulsion enabled construction of screw-powered versions of the traditional frigates, corvettes, sloops and gunboats.
Napoléon was a 90-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, and the first purpose-built steam battleship in the world. She is also considered the first true steam battleship, and the first screw battleship ever.
The Bretagne was a fast 130-gun three-deck ship of the French Navy, designed by engineer Jules Marielle. Built as a new capital ship meant to improve on the very successful Océan class, while avoiding the weaknesses found on Valmy, she retained most of the Océan's design, and incorporated the philosophy of "fast ship of the line" pioneered by Napoléon, with a rounded stern and a two-cylinder, 8-boiler steam engine allowing her a speed of 13.5 knots. The propeller could be retracted to streamline the hull when sailing under sail only.
Friedland was an Océan-class 118-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.
The Austerlitz was a late 100-gun Hercule-class ship of the line of the French Navy.
Souverain was an Océan type 118-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. She was launched in 1819 and transformed into a steam ship in 1853.
Eylau was ordered as one of fourteen second-rank, 100-gun sailing Hercule-class ship of the line for the French Navy, but was converted to a 90-gun steam-powered ship in the 1850s while under construction. Completed in 1857 the ship participated in the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859 and the initial stages of the Second French intervention in Mexico before she was converted into a troopship in 1862 or 1863. Eylau was hulked in 1877 and served as a barracks ship until she was scrapped in 1905.
The Hercule class was a late type of 100-gun ships of the line of the French Navy. They were the second strongest of four ranks of ships of the line designed by the Commission de Paris. While the first units were classical straight-walled ships of the line, next ones were gradually converted to steam, and the last one was built with an engine.
The French brig Alerte was launched in April 1787. The Royal Navy captured her at Toulon in August 1793, and renamed her HMS Vigilante. The British set her on fire when they evacuated Toulon in December of that year. After the French rebuilt her as Alerte, she served at the Battle of Aboukir Bay. The British recaptured her in June 1799 and took her into service as HMS Minorca. Minorca was sold in 1802.
The French ironclad Surveillante was one of 10 Provence-class armored frigates built for the French Navy during the 1860s. Commissioned in 1867, she was initially assigned to the Northern Squadron. The ironclad played a minor role as a flagship in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871, blockading the Baltic and North Sea coasts of Prussia. Surveillante was decommissioned after the war, but was reactivated in 1876. She was transferred to the Mediterranean Squadron the following year.
Guerrière was a sail and steam Dryade-class frigate of the French Navy. She is known as the flagship of Admiral Pierre-Gustave Roze during the French campaign against Korea in 1866.
Ulm was a 100-gun Hercule-class ship of the line of the French Navy. She was transformed into a steam and sail ship while on keel and launched as an 82-gun ship.
Fleurus was a late 100-gun Hercule-class ship of the line of the French Navy, transformed into a sail and steam ship.
Duguay-Trouin was a late 100-gun Hercule-class ship of the line of the French Navy, transformed into a Sail and Steam ship.
Wagram was a late 100-gun Hercule-class ship of the line of the French Navy, transformed into a Sail and Steam ship.
Navarin was a late 100-gun Hercule-class ship of the line of the French Navy, transformed into a Sail and Steam ship.
The Bayard was a 90-gun Ship of the line of the French Navy. She was the first ship in French service named in honour of Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard.
The Tilsitt was a 90-gun Ship of the line of the French Navy. She was the second ship in French service named in honour of the Treaties of Tilsit.
Tourville was a 90-gun sail and steam ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.
Intrépide was intended to be one of five second-rank, 90-gun, steam-powered Algésiras-class ships of the line built for the French Navy in the 1850s, but her construction was suspended for many years before she was converted into a troopship in 1863. The ship evacuated French troops in 1866–1867 after the defeat of Second French intervention in Mexico. Intrépide became a school ship in 1883 and was renamed Borda in 1890. She was withdrawn from service in 1912 and sank by accident the following year. The ship was scrapped in place from 1913 to 1922.
France