French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786 - 1861: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates

In 1786 the French Navy had just emerged from its most successful war of the eighteenth century, having frequently outfought or outmanoeuvred the Royal Navy in battle, and made a major contribution to American independence. The reputation of its ship design and fighting skills never stood higher, yet within a few years the effects of the French Revolution had devastated its efficiency, leading to defeat after defeat. Fine ships continued to be built, but even under Napoleon s dynamic influence the navy never recovered sufficiently to alter the balance of sea power. It was only after 1815 that the navy revived, espousing technical innovation and invention, to produce some of the most advanced ships of the age. This book is the first comprehensive listing of these ships in English, and follows the pattern set by the companion series on British warships in the age of sail in providing an impressive depth of information. It is organised by Rate, classification and class, with significant technical and building data, followed by a concise summary of the careers of each ship in every class. Thus for the first time it is possible to form a clear picture of the overall development of French warships in the latter half of the sailing era. Title Copyright Contents Preface Acknowledgments Structure and Organisation of the Book Historical Overview Chronology French Naval Operations Dockyards and Infrastructure French Navies and Naval Construction outside France, 1797-1814 Sources and Bibliography Glossary and Abbreviations List of the French Fleet as at 1 January 1786. Chapter 1: The Three-deckers (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Vessels acquired from 26 June 1815 (E) Screw three-deckers Chapter 2: Two-decker Ships of the Line, 80 to 100 guns (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Vessels acquired from 26 June 1815 (E) Screw two-deckers, 2nd and 3rd Ranks Chapter 3: Two-decker Ships of the Line, 74 guns and below. Two-deckers with fewer than 60 guns (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 64-gun two-deckers (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 74-gun two-deckers (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Vessels acquired from 26 June 1815 (E) Screw two-deckers, 4th (and 3rd) Rank Chapter 4: The Larger Frigates (24-, 30-, and 36-pounder Frigates) (A) Larger frigates in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Larger frigates acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Larger frigates acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Larger frigates acquired from 26 June 1815 (E) Screw frigates, 1st and 2nd Ranks Chapter 5: The Smaller Frigates (8-, 12-, and 18-pounder Frigates) 8-pounder frigates (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1785 12-pounder frigates (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1785 (B) Vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 18-pounder frigates (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1785 (B) Vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Vessels acquired from 26 June 1815 (E) Screw frigates, 3rd Rank Chapter 6: Corvettes (A) Corvettes in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Corvettes acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Corvettes acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Sailing corvettes acquired from 26 June 1815 (E) Screw corvettes Chapter 7: Brigs (A) Brigs in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Brigs acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Brigs acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Brigs acquired from 26 June 1815 Chapter 8: Small Sailing Patrol Vessels (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Vessels acquired from 26 June 1815 Chapter 9: Sailing Gunboats and Coastal Vessels (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Vessels acquired from 26 June 1815 Chapter 10: Miscellaneous Sailing Vessels Lateen-rigged vessels (A) Vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Vessels acquired from 26 June 1815 Bomb (mortar) vessels (A) Bomb vessels in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Bomb vessels acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Bomb vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Bomb vessels acquired from 26 June 1815 Floating batteries (A) Floating batteries in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Floating batteries acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Floating batteries acquired from 25 March 1802 Hydrographic vessels (A) Hydrographic vessels acquired from 25 March 1802 (B) Hydrographic vessels acquired from 26 June 1815 Yachts (A) Yachts in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Yachts acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Yachts acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Yachts acquired from 26 June 1815 Chapter 11: Paddle Vessels (A) Early paddle vessels (B) Paddle frigates and corvettes (C) Larger paddle avisos (D) Smaller paddle avisos (90nhp and less) (E) Paddle yacht (later paddle corvette) Chapter 12: Screw Avisos and Screw Gunboats (A) Screw 1st and 2nd Class avisos (B) Small screw avisos (90nhp and less) (C) Screw gunboats (D) Screw gun launches and sectional gun launches (E) Screw sectional armoured floating batteries Chapter 13: The Larger Transports Flûtes (corvettes de charge from 1821, transports from 1846) (A) Flûtes in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Flûtes acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Flûtes acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Flûtes and corvettes de charge acquired from 26 June 1815 Gabarres (transports from 1846) (A) Gabarres in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Gabarres acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Gabarres acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Gabarres acquired from 26 June 1815 Large transports (A) Vessels acquired from 26 June 1815 (B) Screw transports Chapter 14: The Smaller Transports (A) Smaller transports in service or on order at 1 January 1786 (B) Smaller transports acquired from 1 January 1786 (C) Smaller transports acquired from 25 March 1802 (D) Smaller transports acquired from 26 June 1815 Postscript: Broadside Ironclads Ironclad frigates Ironclad floating batteries Appendix A. Standard Armaments of French Ships, 1786-1848 Appendix B. French Naval Artillery, 1786-1860 Appendix C. Resources Provided to the French Navy, 1816-1861 Appendix D. Strength of the French Navy 1818-1859 Appendix E. French Naval Programs, 1820-1857 Appendix F. French Ministers of Marine, 1780-1870 Appendix G: French Navy Shipbuilding Officials Appendix H. Selected French Naval Constructors, 1786-1861 Appendix I. French Naval Ship and Engine Builders, 1793-1861 Appendix J. Composition of the Crew for a French Ship of the Line, 1795

In 1786 the French Navy had just emerged from its most successful war of the eighteenth century, having frequently outfought or outmanoeuvred the Royal Navy in battle, and made a major contribution to American independence. The reputation of its ship design and fighting skills never stood higher, yet within a few years the effects of the French Revolution had devastated its efficiency, leading to defeat after defeat. Fine ships continued to be built, but even under Napoleon's dynamic influence the navy never recovered sufficiently to alter the balance of sea power. It was only after 1815 that the navy revived, espousing technical innovation and invention, to produce some of the most advanced ships of the age.This book is the first comprehensive listing of these ships in English, and follows the pattern set by the companion series on British warships in the age of sail in providing an impressive depth of information. It is organised by Rate, classification and class, with significant technical and building data, followed by a concise summary of the careers of each ship in every class. Thus for the first time it is possible to form a clear picture of the overall development of French warships in the latter half of the sailing era.

The only comprehensive listing of French sailing warships in English, a 'must-have' reference work for anyone interested in this field