Sail brigs (18 guns, launched 1842-63)

GENIE class (launched 1842-63)
OLIVIER (launched 1844)
MERCURE (launched 1842)
ABEILLE (launched 1844)


GENIE class sail brigs (18 guns)

Displacement:  542t
Dimensions: 106ft 8in wl, 108ft 3in deck x 31ft 6in mld, 32ft 2in ext x 13ft 3in mean
Same, meters: 32.50, 33.00 x 9.60, 9.80 x 4.05m
Masts: As Cygne
Armament: 16-30p carr., 2-16cm shell. (Victor 1852) 14-16cm shell
Complement: 101-125

Name           Builder     Laid down Launched  Commiss.  Fate         
GENIE Brest 13.7.41 23.6.42 1.1.43 Stk. 8.11.66
JANUS Toulon 8.47 21.11.48 10.6.61 Stk. 22.1.84
VICTOR Brest 4.8.48 21.7.49 7.1.52 Stk. 15.7.67
NISUS Brest 11.6.49 14.5.50 16.10.54 Stk. 13.12.66
BEAUMANOIR Cherbourg 19.1.50 2.12.53 3.5.54 Stk. 23.10.83
ZEBRE Lorient 26.5.48 4.11.54 6.7.57 Stk. 8.11.66
EURYALE Rochefort 31.10.49 1863 9.2.64 Lost 5.3.70
CHEVERT Rochefort 4.50 1863 12.2.64 Stk. 1.8.73

Class. Boucher in 1840 recommended a new armament and dimensions for the navy's large brigs which he incorporated in this design. The new design was intended to improve the stability, speed, and height of battery of the ships and enable them to carry an armament competitive with that in recent British brigs. Four experimental brigs were ordered, two with Boucher's dimensions (Génie and Olivier) and two of the old type with beam increased by 2ft 0in (Mercure and Abeille). Boucher completed his plans in 5.41. On 14.3.48 the later ships were ordered built with an armament of 16-16cm shell. Euryale and Chevert were completed as transports and others, including Beaumanoir (converted 1869), also served as transports rerigged with three masts. Another ship, Drouot, was scheduled to be begun at Toulon in 1850 but was deferred and cancelled in 1852.

Disposals. Génie became a coal hulk and was BU 1889. Janus served as an annex to the naval academy hulk Borda 1884-97, was then used for calibrating compasses, and was BU 1914. Victor became a coal hulk and was BU 1881. Nisus became an annex to the boys training hulk Bretagne at Brest and was BU 1922. Beaumanoir became a barracks hulk, later (c1900) a coal hulk, and was BU 1904. Zèbre became a headquarters hulk and was BU 1896. Euryale was wrecked in 1870 and Chevert was BU 1873.



OLIVIER sail brig (18 guns)

Displacement:  550t
Dimensions: 108ft 3in deck x 31ft 6in mld x 13ft 3in mean
Same, meters: 33.00 x 9.60 x 4.05m
Masts: As Cygne
Armament: 16-30p carr., 2-16cm shell
Complement: 101

Name           Builder     Laid down Launched  Commiss.  Fate         
OLIVIER Toulon 7.43 28.12.44 1.4.48 Stk. 7.5.68

Class. Sochet completed the plans for this ship, one of three ordered with Génie, in 4.41. Originally named Fanfaron, she was renamed Olivier in 1842.

Disposal. Olivier became a coal hulk and was BU 1887.



MERCURE sail brig (18 guns)

Displacement:  618t
Dimensions: 110ft 7in wl, 111ft 7in deck x 30ft 10in mld x 14ft 2in mean, 15ft 2in max.
Same, meters: 33.70, 34.00 x 9.40 x 4.33, 4.62m
Masts: As Cygne
Armament: 16-30p carr., 2-16cm shell
Complement: 101

Name           Builder     Laid down Launched  Commiss.  Fate         
MERCURE Brest 26.6.41 25.5.42 1.2.43 Stk. 8.3.62

Class. Prétot completed the plans for this ship, one of three ordered with Génie, in 4.41.

Disposal. Mercure became a coal hulk and was BU 1888.



ABEILLE sail brig (18 guns)

Displacement:  538t
Dimensions: 109ft 6in wl x 30ft 10in mld x 13ft 3in mean
Same, meters: 33.37 x 9.40 x 4.05m
Masts: As Cygne
Armament: 16-30p carr., 2-16cm shell
Complement: 101

Name           Builder     Laid down Launched  Commiss.  Fate         
ABEILLE Cherbourg 6.43 14.9.44 18.8.45 Lost 10.12.47

Class. Bayle completed the plans for this ship, one of three ordered with Génie, in 4.41. Launched as Faune, she was renamed when the previous Abeille was struck on 15.11.44 to perpetuate the name of the brig which captured the British brig Alacrity on 26.5.11.

Disposal. Abeille was lost in the Gulf of Benin off the fort at Quita (now Keta, Ghana).