River Gunboats
Page 19
The profile, sections and plan of the Emperor’s proposed river gunboats (designated as ‘Riverine Floating Batteries’) for use during his Italian campaign. They were to be armed with two BL canons de 24 (firing shells weighing 24kg, as against the old ‘pounders’), but for lack of modern weapons, at first they mounted old 30-pounder 16cm MLR. (Drawing via Robert Gardiner)
A contemporary illustration of the Seine Flotilla in 1870–1, with one of Napoleon III’s gunboats and three smaller gunboats of the Flotilla in the background, probably of the Arbalète class. The main vessel is perhaps Riverine Floating Battery No 5, which would be taken over by the Communards on 28 March 1871 and renamed La Commune, although here she is shown flying the tricolour and not the red flag. Differences from the original draft outlines are: an observation embrasure let into the front of the gun casemate, a substantial timber buffer added to the bows (to use in ramming attacks), funnels and tall ventilators. Otherwise, all the details match up. (Illustration in the Author’s collection, original from the Harlingue-Viollet Archive)
Based on Napoleon’s ideas, naval architect Dupuy de Lôme drew up the detailed design, incorporating 50mm of armour plate with timber backing on an iron hull, designed to resist Austrian 12-pounder field guns. Reassembly of the fourteen sections could take up to forty-five hours.
Launched:
1859 by FCM, La Seyne.
Dimensions:
Displ: 142 tons; L: 21.94m/72ft; B: 7.7m/25ft 3in; D: 1m/3ft 3in.
Crew:
30-40.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × single-cyl horizontal steam engines 95ihp/4.2 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 16cm MLR with 300 rounds/50mm vertical iron plates. 1871: 2 × 164mm Mle 1858 BL.
Fate:
Nos 1–4 broken up 1872; No 5 floating workshop then coal barge 1877, broken up 1922.
THE SEINE FLOTILLA
During the siege of Paris by the Prussians, the gunboats of the Seine Flotilla harried the German gunners at Breteuil. When the revolt of the Communards broke out on 18 March 1871, fourteen gunboats were tied up near the Pont Neuf, at Vert-Galant. Under the terms of the Franco-Prussian Armistice the majority of their crews had departed, leaving just maintenance crews on board. Ten days later, the gunboats were seized by the Communards and moved for safety underneath the Pont Neuf. The vessels included Floating Battery No 5, Escopette, Estoc, Pierrier and Rapière.
The Commune officials first tried to assemble the gunboat crews, but most of them had already left Paris to rejoin their comrades in the forces of Versailles, so a motley collection of volunteers, including three cashiered officers from the Navy, was assembled and established as the new gunboat crewmen. Fleshed out by the mechanics and firemen taken from the bateaux-mouches, several gunboats began operations by loading their guns behind the shelter of the columns of the Pont-du-Jour viaduct, then dashing out at maximum speed to within 600m of the army lines to fire their heavy guns. They then retreated to begin the operation over again. Unfortunately the positions they bombarded had not yet even been occupied, so their initial efforts were largely wasted, serving only as a morale booster.
When on 13 May the Versailles troops unmasked several actual gun batteries, they surprised the flotilla in the process of one of these sorties, sending them scurrying back to shelter, all except for the Estoc which, hit on the waterline, filled and sank. Several of her crew were drowned. After this disaster, the flotilla moved to moor in the shelter of the Pont de la Concorde, and took no further part in hostilities.
Riverine Floating Batteries Nos 6–11
Five years after the initial batch, Dupuy de Lôme designed a second series of much larger iron-hulled Riverine Floating Batteries, for possible use on the Rhine. Ordered on 29 March 1864, they were completed the same year. From the plan it appears they were intended for broadside fire, either to port or starboard, which would have been more sensible in a riverine environment than the two ahead-firing guns of Nos 1–5, given the lack of a revolving turret.
With their extremely low freeboard, they were vulnerable to swamping on the open sea in the same way as the USS Monitor, and in fact No 6 was lost during open sea transit between Cherbourg and Le Havre, and No 7 was lost in the same way between Toulon and Marseille. No 8 became a torpedo repair pontoon in 1886, and two others, Nos 9 and 11, became coaling barges in 1888.
Riverine Floating Batteries Nos 6–11. (Profile from the French Archives, Chatellerault, published on the Web)
Launched:
Launched 1864 by FCM, La Seyne.
Dimensions:
Displ: 285 tons; L: 27m/88ft 7in; B: 9m/29ft 6in; D: 1.7m/5ft 7in.
Crew:
40.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × single-cyl horizontal steam engines, 130ihp/5.9 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 16cm MLR with 300 rounds/80mm vertical iron plates. Later changed for: 2 × 140mm BL.
Fate:
No 6 lost 5 January 1871; No 7 lost 15 November 1870; No 8 broken up 1913; No 9 broken up 1889; No 10 sold 1890; No 11 coal barge 1888.
Chaloupe-Canonnières Nos 1–5
Ten of these wooden-hulled cannon-launches were ordered from FCM on 24 December 1858 for service in Italy. Five vessels, Nos 6–10, were handed to the King of Sardinia and given the following names: Frassineto, Sesia, Torrione, Castenedolo and Pozzolengo respectively. By 1865 all the French vessels had been converted to use as harbour tugs, and at that time received names: No 1 became Poulmic, No 2, Précieuse, No 3, Va-et-Vient, No 4, Modeste and No 5, Minou. Va-et-Vient returned to naval service as guardship for the prison hulks holding surrendered Communards in 1871.
Launched:
1859 by FCM, La Seyne.
Dimensions:
Displ: 101 tons; L: 24.7m/164ft; B: 4.9m/26ft 7in; D: 1.6m/3ft 6in.
Crew:
18.
Power/Speed:
Single screw; steam engine 16 nominal hp/7.25 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 164mm Mle 1858 BL/Bow gun shield ?mm.
Fate:
Broken up: Poulmic 1896; Précieuse 1876; Va-et-Vient 1919; Modeste 1892; Minou 1905.
River Gunboat and Troop Transport Comète
A large composite-hulled river gunboat with steam and sail power, designed for the short-distance transport of up to 1,000 troops. After becoming stuck on the building slip, she was successfully launched on the following day, entering service on 7 November 1859. From 9 May 1871 to 1 June 1872 she served as prison ship for Communards at Rochefort, and in 1872 she transported Communards to the penal colony in Guyana.
Launched:
29 September 1859 by Arman, Bordeaux.
Dimensions:
Displ: 820 tons; L: 75.8m/164ft; B: 8.9m/26ft 7in; D: 2.3m/3ft 6in.
Crew:
79.
Power/Speed:
Single screw; 2-cyl geared steam engine, 470ihp.
Guns/Armour:
4 × 164mm Mle 1858 BL/Gun shields. 1867: + 2 × 4cm.
Fate:
Broken up 1880.
Comète.
Napoleonic chaloupe-canonnières (gun-launches) being re-assembled on Lake Garda. Half of them would be ceded to the Kingdom of Italy. (Léon Méhédin photo in the Bibliothèque nationale de France, ref G 72788)
Javelot ending her career peacefully as a receiving vessel moored at Hendaye.
Arbalète Class 1866
Twenty iron-hulled gun launches designed by Dupuy de Lôme, built in two shipyards, and entering service between 1866 and 1870. In 1869 Lance and Obus served as river gunboats in Gabon. Baïonette, Boutefeu, Caronade, Claymore, Escopette, Estoc, Pierrier, Rapière and Sabre were part of the Seine Flotilla defending Paris against the Prussians in 1870. The following year Claymore, Escopette, Estoc, Pierrier and Rapière served the Commune. Conversely Boutefeu, Dard, Flambant and Sabre fought on the Versailles side. In 1873 Escopette and Estoc were transported to Saigon on board the Boréal and reass
embled there.
Launched:
1866–8 by FCM, La Seyne and Claparède, Saint-Denis.
Dimensions:
Displ: 90 to 103 tons; All except for Caronade: L: 25.4m/83ft 4in; B: 4.9m/16ft 1in; D: 1.63m/5ft 4in. Caronade: L: 26.91m/88ft 3in; B: 4.9m/16ft 1in; D: 1.24m/4ft 1in.
Crew:
26.
Power/Speed:
Single screw; steam engine 45ihp/5 to 6.5 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × Rifled 24s with 300 rounds. 1867: + 2 × 4cm/1870 enclosed gun-house. 1871: 1 × 164mm Mle 1858 BL or 1 × 14cm Mle 1858-60/Gun shield.
Fate:
Dard sunk 16 December 1874; Estoc sunk 2 September 1883; Obus cast ashore and wrecked 1871. Last to be broken up was Javelot 1911.
Gunboats Farcy and Revolver
Lieutenant Farcy was keen to propose a new form of river gunboat, but his design was rejected by the naval authorities. He was saved by Napoleon III, who paid for the construction of the vessel out of his own pocket. Farcy saw service in the Seine Flotilla during the siege of Paris, but her unarmoured hull meant that she was exposed much less than the other, sturdier gunboats. Whenever the Flotilla was withdrawn into the centre of Paris and could be visited by the public, and especially journalists, the Farcy was always one of the popular attractions. So much so that she was mentioned in virtually every article of the period, despite her modest military potential.
An artist’s rendering of the Tonkin veteran gunboat Mitrailleuse, marked up with her original name Farcy, being transported across the Pont d’Alma to the Palais de l’Industrie. Note the Decauville rail sections, being used in a manner which would be repeated on the Mekong for the transport of Massie and La Grandière across the Khône Rapids. Lieutennat Farcy is no doubt one of the two figures on the bridge deck, taking in the view of the new Eiffel Tower under construction. (L’Illustration of 25 August 1888)
Her iron hull was divided into no less than eighty-four small watertight compartments, making her difficult to sink with small-arms fire, despite a commentator writing that her thin plating would be vulnerable to concentrated rifle volleys. Lieutenant Farcy had designed her hull with longitudinal corrugations in an effort to reduce her rolling, very wise given the weight of her principal armament. The large cannon, originally a 164mm piece, later upgraded to a Rifled 24, had a limited arc of horizontal fire, and its elevation had to be restricted to avoid buckling the deck structure. One novel feature was her protruding ram bow, which it was hoped could clear river obstacles.
Her sister Revolver was ordered by the Danish Navy, but was purchased by the French on 10 December 1869.
In 1870 Farcy was renamed Mitrailleuse, and in February 1884 she was carried along with her sister Revolver to the Far East on board the troopship Bien Hoa, being offloaded in Along Bay and eventually making Haiphong on 30 April 1884 (see Indochina below).
Launched:
1869 by Claparède, Saint-Denis.
Dimensions:
Displ: 45 tons; L: 15.94m/164ft; B: 4.7m/26ft 7in; D: 1.2m/3ft 6in.
Crew:
8–12.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × steam engines, 2 × 12 nominal hp/6.8 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 164mm Mle 1858 BL. Later: 1 × Rifled 24/(Revolver)/Fitted with bulletproof plating and small conning tower.
Fate:
Mitrailleuse stricken April 1889; Revolver sold 1890.
Épée of 1873
An Internet trawl pulled up this little gunboat, described as being designed for riverine service. She dates from the post-Napoleonic period, but her ‘weapon’ name fits in well. In a forced draft competition her two funnels would have rivalled American gunboats of a couple of decades later. The funnels and the single mast appear to have the ability to hinge backwards, otherwise passing under river crossings would be impossible.
Canonnière fluviale Épée of 1873. (MRB Magazine No 345, August 1992, courtesy of Benoît)
Launched:
1873 by Lorient Shipyard.
Dimensions:
Displ: 184 tons.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; steam engines, 180ihp.
Guns/Armour:
1 × Rifled 24; 1 × 12cm.
Fate:
Broken up 1896.
AFRICAN EXPEDITIONS
Senegalese Gunboats
The French Navy constructed a number of side paddle-wheelers for service in Senegal, including penetration into the hinterland. The gunboats facilitated the establishment, resupply and defence of fortified posts the length of the Senegal River, such as the relief of the Fort de Médine by gunboats on 18 July 1857, which had undergone a four-month siege by the forces of El Hadj Omar.
Erèbe
Wooden hull.
Launched:
1838 by Indret.
Dimensions:
Displ: 252 tons; L: 43.43m/142ft 6in; B: 5.5m/18ft; D: 2.2m/7ft 3in.
Power/Speed:
Side paddle wheels; 60 nominal hp/8.9 knots.
Guns/Armour:
4 × 18-pounder carronades.
Fate:
1849 river transport; Sunk in Senegal River September 1850.
Serpent Class 1843
Flat-bottom wooden hull for river work. These vessels wore out quickly. Their engines were saved and fitted to the later Serpent class.
Launched:
1844, Serpent by Asnières; Basilic by Cherbourg DY.
Dimensions:
Displ: 170 tons; L: 42m/137ft 10in; B: 5m/16ft 5in.
Crew:
25.
Power/Speed:
Side paddle wheels; oscillating engines 30 nominal hp.
Guns/Armour:
2 × guns (calibre not recorded).
Fate:
Serpent stricken 1851; Basilic broken up 1861.
Guet n’dar I
Iron gunboat designed for Senegal by Guibert. Double-ended with rudders at bow and stern. Iron hull with three watertight compartments.
Launched:
1848 by Nantes DY.
Dimensions:
Displ: 60 tons; L: 20m/65ft 7in; B: 4.8m/15ft 9in; D: 0.65m/2ft 2in.
Crew:
15.
Power/Speed:
Side paddle wheels; 60 nominal hp/7.34 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 4-pounder howitzers.
Fate:
Wrecked in the Senegal River 1853.
Serpent Class 1852
Flat-bottomed but with iron hulls, designed by Soulery to same specifications as preceding Serpent class of 1843, re-using their machinery, but with new boilers.
Launched:
Serpent 1852 by Asnières; Basilic 1854 by Cherbourg DY.
Dimensions:
Displ: 170 tons; L: 42.6m/139ft 9in; B: 5m/16ft 5in; D: 1.3m/4ft 3in.
Crew:
25–36.
Power/Speed:
Side paddle wheels; 30 nominal hp/6.7 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 12cm bronze howitzers.
Fate:
Serpent broken up 1865; Basilic stricken 1873.
Marabout
Iron hull.
Launched:
1852 by Brest DY.
Dimensions:
Displ: 238 tons; L: 44.65m/146ft 6in; B: 6m/19ft 8in; D: 1.89m/6ft 2in.
Crew:
44–53.
Power/Speed:
Side paddle wheels; 60 nominal hp steam engine from Erèbe/8 knots.
Guns/Armour:
4 × 12cm bronze howitzers.
Fate:
Broken up 1871.
Dialmath Class
Wooden gunboats designed by Courbebaisse for service in Senegal. Hulls sheathed with copper. From June to October 1860 Podor explored the right bank of the Senegal River.
Launched:
1855 Dialmath and Podor by Brest DY.
Dimensions:
Displ: 280 tons; L: 41.75m/137ft; B: 7.19m/23ft 7in; D: 1.88m/6ft 2in.
&n
bsp; Crew:
44.
Power/Speed:
Side paddle wheels; 60 nominal hp.
Guns/Armour:
4 × 12cm howitzers.
Fate:
Podor broken up 1875; Dialmath stricken May 1865.
Africain Class
Repeats of Dialmath with slight modifications.
Launched:
1858 Africain and Arab by Lorient DY.
Dimensions:
Displ: 280 tons; L: 40.22m/132ft; B: 7.12m/23ft 4in; D: 2.2m/7ft 3in.
Crew:
44.
Power/Speed:
Side paddle wheels; 60 nominal hp (200ihp)/6 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 4-pounder howitzers.
Fate:
Both broken up 1879.
Akba Class
Wooden gunboats copied from Guet n’dar I. Double-ended with rudders at bow and stern. Guet n’dar II used the machinery of Guet n’dar I.
Launched:
1854 Akba and Guet n’dar II by Le Havre DY.
Dimensions:
Displ: 48 tons; L: 20.3m/66ft 7in; B: 4.8m/15ft 9in; D: 0.8m/2ft 7in.
Crew:
15.
Power/Speed:
Side paddle wheels; 20 nominal hp.
Guns/Armour:
2 × howitzers.
Fate:
Akba stricken 1859; Guet n’dar II lost in the Senegal River November 1856.
Crocodile Class
Iron gunboats based on Guet n’dar.