Hoche was an ironclad battleship built as a hybrid barbette–turret ship for the French Navy in the 1880s. Originally designed in response to very large Italian ironclads along the lines of the French Amiral Baudin class, by the time work on Hoche began, changes in French design philosophy led to a radical re-design that provided the basis for a generation of French capital ships. Her armament was reduced in size compared to the Amiral Baudins, and was placed in the lozenge arrangement that would be used for most French capital ships into the 1890s. Hoche suffered from serious stability problems that resulted from her large superstructure and low freeboard, which required extensive work later in her career to correct. The ship incorporated new technologies for the French Navy, including gun turrets for some of her main battery guns and compound armor plate.
The Bouvines class consisted of a pair of ironclad coastal-defense ships built for the French Navy in the 1890s, Bouvines and Amiral Tréhouart. Thoroughly obsolete by World War I, the ships only played a minor role during the war. They were sold for scrap in 1920.
Vasco da Gama was an ironclad of the Portuguese Navy built in the 1870s by the Thames Iron Works in London. Ordered to strengthen the defenses of the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, Vasco da Gama was launched in 1875 and completed in 1878. She served as the flagship of the Portuguese fleet for the majority of her long and peaceful career. She was rebuilt and heavily modernized between 1901 and 1903. Her crew was involved in revolts in 1913 and 1914; during the latter event, they bombarded Lisbon and killed around one hundred people. Long-since obsolete by the 1930s, Vasco da Gama was finally sold for scrapping in 1935.
In the years before the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the French Navy considered several proposals for battlecruisers. The Navy issued specifications for a battlecruiser design to complete part of the 28 capital ships to be built by 1920. Three designs, one by P. Gille and two by Lieutenant Durand-Viel, were completed in 1913. All three designs were similar to contemporary battleship designs, specifically the Normandie class, which introduced a quadruple gun turret for the main battery, which was adopted for all three proposals. The first two called for the same 340 mm (13.4 in) gun used on all French super-dreadnoughts, though the third proposed a much more powerful 370 mm (14.6 in) gun. Though the design studies were complete, the French Navy did not authorize or begin construction of any battlecruisers before the start of the war.
Terrible was an ironclad barbette ship built for the French Navy in the late 1870s and early 1880s. She was the lead ship of the Terrible class, which included three other vessels. They were built as part of a fleet plan started in 1872, which by the late 1870s had been directed against a strengthening Italian fleet. The ships were intended for coastal operations, and as such had a shallow draft and a low freeboard, which greatly hampered their seakeeping and thus reduced their ability to be usefully employed after entering service. Armament consisted of a pair of 420 mm (16.5 in) guns in individual barbettes, the largest gun ever mounted on a French capital ship. Terrible was laid down in 1877 and was completed in 1887.
Requin was an ironclad barbette ship built for the French Navy in the late 1870s and early 1880s. She was last member of the four-ship Terrible class. They were built as part of a fleet plan started in 1872, which by the late 1870s had been directed against a strengthening Italian fleet. The ships were intended for coastal operations, and as such had a shallow draft and a low freeboard, which greatly hampered their seakeeping and thus reduced their ability to be usefully employed outside of coastal operations after entering service. Armament consisted of a pair of 420 mm (16.5 in) guns in individual barbettes, the largest-caliber gun ever mounted on a French capital ship. Requin was laid down in 1878 and was completed in 1887.
Caïman was an ironclad barbette ship built for the French Navy in the late 1870s and early 1880s. She was the third of four ships of the Terrible class, built as part of a fleet plan started in 1872, which by the late 1870s had been directed against a strengthening Italian fleet. The ships were intended for coastal operations, and as such had a shallow draft and a low freeboard, which greatly hampered their seakeeping and thus reduced their ability to be usefully employed after entering service. Armament consisted of a pair of 420 mm (16.5 in) guns in individual barbettes, the largest gun ever mounted on a French capital ship. Caïman was laid down in 1878 and was completed in 1887.
Furieux was an ironclad coastal defense ship built for the French Navy in the late 1870s and 1880s. She was ordered under the fleet plan of 1872 that was intended to strengthen the French fleet after the Franco-Prussian War. Originally intended to be similar to the Tonnerre class, Furieux was re-designed after the German Sachsen-class ironclads had begun construction, as the earlier French coastal defense ships were too weak to defeat the Sachsens. Instead of carrying her main armament of two guns in a single gun turret like Tonnerre and other French coastal defense ships, Furieux mounted a pair of guns in two barbettes that allowed her to fire one ahead or astern at any angle. Her guns were significantly larger than the earlier vessels as well, increasing from the 270 mm (10.6 in) guns of her predecessors to 340 mm (13.4 in) weapons. Her design suffered from several problems, including insufficient freeboard and poor stability, both of which reduced her ability to operate in open water. She was also badly overweight, which submerged her belt armor, greatly reducing her defensive characteristics.
Surcouf was the second Forbin-class protected cruiser built for the French Navy in the late 1880s and early 1890s. The Forbin-class cruisers were built as part of a construction program intended to provide scouts for the main battle fleet. They were based on the earlier unprotected cruiser Milan, with the addition of an armor deck to improve their usefulness in battle. They had a high top speed for the time, at around 20 knots, and they carried a main battery of four 138 mm (5.4 in) guns.
Coëtlogon was a protected cruiser of the Forbin class built in the late 1880s and early 1890s for the French Navy; she was the last member of her class to be built. The Forbin-class cruisers were built as part of a construction program intended to provide scouts for the main battle fleet. They were based on the earlier unprotected cruiser Milan, with the addition of an armor deck to improve their usefulness in battle. They had a high top speed for the time, at around 20 knots, and they carried a main battery of four 138 mm (5.4 in) guns.
Alger was the sole member of her class of protected cruiser built for the French Navy in the late 1880s and early 1890s. Alger was ordered during the tenure of Admiral Théophile Aube as Minister of Marine according to the theories of the Jeune École doctrine. The ship was intended as a long-range commerce raider, and she was armed with a main battery of four 164 mm (6.5 in) guns, was protected by an armor deck that was 50 to 100 mm thick, and was capable of steaming at a top speed of 19.5 knots.
Chasseloup-Laubat was a protected cruiser of the Friant class built in the 1890s for the French Navy, the last of three ships of the class. The Friant-class cruisers were ordered as part of a construction program directed at strengthening the fleet's cruiser force. At the time, France was concerned with the growing naval threat of the Italian and German fleets, and the new cruisers were intended to serve with the main fleet, and overseas in the French colonial empire. Chasseloup-Laubat and her two sister ships were armed with a main battery of six 164 mm (6.5 in) guns, were protected by an armor deck that was 30 to 80 mm thick, and were capable of steaming at a top speed of 18.7 knots.
Amiral Tréhouart was the second and last Bouvines-class ironclad coast-defence ships built for the French Navy in the early 1890s. Completed in 1896, little is known about her service. During World War I, the ship served as a submarine tender. She was sold for scrap in 1920.
Jemmapes was the lead ship of a class of two coastal defense ships built for the French Navy in the 1890s. Launched in 1892, the vessel joined the Northern Squadron of the French Navy at Brest. Armed with a main armament of two 274 mm (10.8 in) guns, the vessel was designed within the principles of the Jeune École. The ship joined the Northern Squadron, which was called, "the most homogenous and dangerous squadron that one could meet at sea". Jemmapes took part in a large naval exercise in 1895 but otherwise had an uneventful career as French naval doctrine moved from a fleet of smaller coastal defense ships to larger ocean-going battleships. The ship was decommissioned in 1910 and served as a hulk before being sold in 1927 to be broken up.
Valmy was the second member of the Jemmapes class of coastal defense ships built for the French Navy in the 1890s. Launched in 1892, the vessel joined the at Brest. Armed with a main armament of two 274 mm (10.8 in) guns, the vessel was designed within the principles of the Jeune École. The ship served in the Northern Squadron, which Vice Admiral Armand Bernard called, "the most homogenous and dangerous squadron that one could meet at sea". Valmy took part in a large naval exercises in 1895 and 1896 but otherwise had an uneventful career as French naval doctrine moved from a fleet of smaller coastal defense ships to larger ocean-going battleships. The ship was decommissioned after 1909 and sold in 1911 to be broken up.
The Tonnerre class was a group of two coastal-defense ships built for the French Navy in the 1870s. A design based on the preceding Bélier-class ram but with similarities to the Royal Navy breastwork monitor Glatton, the class comprised Tonnerre and Fulminant. Their main battery of two 274.4 mm (11 in) was mounted in a single turret powered by a hydraulic machinery, an early use of the technology, that was situated forward of a narrow superstructure and was. The ships could be distinguished by their different engines, the diameter of their single funnel and the slightly different calibre of their secondary armament. They were commissioned into the Armored Division of the Northern Squadron in 1891. They participated in naval exercises. Changes in naval doctrine, alongside the introduction of more capable battleships and new technologies like submarines meant that the ships were obsolete. Tonnerre and Fulminant were struck in 1902 and 1905 respectively and, after serving as target ships, sold to the broken up.
Tonnerre was the lead ship of a class of two coastal defense breastwork monitors built for the French Navy in the 1870s. Armed with a main armament of two 274.4 mm (11 in) Modèle 1875 guns mounted in a single turret that had armor 300 mm (12 in) thick, the ship was Launched in 1875, the vessel was originally commissioned into reserve at Brest. As French naval doctrine moved from a fleet of smaller coastal defense ships to larger ocean-going battleships, the ship Tonnerre had an uneventful career. Between 1884 and 1885, the ship served in the Evolution Squadron but joined the Northern Squadron in 1891. As part of a naval exercise in 1893, the vessel participated in the successful defence of Cherbourg against a superior force. The ship was struck in 1905 and, after serving as a target, was sold after 1920.
Fulminant was the second of the two ships of the Tonnerre-class, coastal defense breastwork monitors built for the French Navy in the 1870s. Launched in 1877, the ship was armed with a main armament of two 274.4 mm (10.8 in) Modèle 1875 guns mounted in a single turret that had armor 300 mm (12 in) thick. In 1887, the vessel was damaged near Brest while sailing between Cherbourg and Toulon, but was swiftly repaired. From 1891, the ship served in the Northern Squadron (Esadre du Nord}. As French naval doctrine moved from a fleet of smaller coastal defense ships to larger ocean-going battleships, the ship had a short active career. The warship was struck in 1908 and served as a target for the ships of the Mediterranean Squadron. Sunk and raised in 1911, Fulminant was sold a year later and broken up.
Tonnant was a coastal defense ship built for the French Navy that served during the last two decades of the nineteenth century. Initially envisaged to mount two 340 mm (13.4 in) guns in a single turret, the design was redone with the guns mounted in two barbette turrets. The vessel pioneered the naval use of the electricity, the power source being used to drive the turrets. Launched in 1880, Tonnant was initially commissioned in reserve and was only intermittently placed into active service. The vessel did not participate in any conflicts. However, in 1889, Tonnant formed part of the force that successfully defended Cherbourg in a naval exercise against the more powerful ironclads of the Channel Squadron. The main armament was removed to be upgraded in 1901 but was not replaced. Instead, the ship was decommissioned in 1902 and was sold in 1905 to be broken up.
French Navy 