Paddle avisos (2nd class, 100 nhp, launched 1846-48)

ANACREON (launched 1846)
AVERNE (launched 1848)


ANACREON paddle aviso (2nd class)

Displacement:	297t (originally 236t)
Dimensions:	131ft 3in wl, 139ft 11in deck x 20ft 6in x 7ft 2in mean, 7ft 6in max. Depth 6ft 7in
Same, meters:	40.00, 42.65 x 6.26 x 2.18, 2.28m. 2.00m
Machinery:	100nhp (Indret). Direct, double traverse, tubular boilers, 254ihp, 9.75kts
Hull material:	Iron
Armament:	(1847) 8 pierriers
Complement:	64

Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commiss.	Fate
ANACREON	Indret	17.6.45	2.11.46	22.11.46	Stk. 3.11.59

Class. The budget for 1844 included a 80nhp paddle steamer Anacréon to be built at Indret. Indret was unable to start work in 1844, and the ship was relisted in the budget for 1845 but under a different name, Passe Partout. As such, she was designed by Joffre to fulfill the mission as royal yacht for which Vedette, ex Comte d'Eu, had been designed. (The name, chosen by the king, referred to her ability to "go anywhere," specifically the port of Tréport, near Eu, which required a draft under 6ft 7in (2 meters).) In September the king noted with approval the 13-knot speed of HMS Fairy, a tender for the British royal family which was one of the earliest screw steamers. The navy lost no time examining the possibility of substititing a screw for the paddle wheels in Passe Partout, but on 4.10.45 decided to build an entirely new ship for the screw. The paddle steamer reverted to the name Anacréon and was completed as an aviso after the delivery of the screw Passe Partout. She had the same type engines as the corvette Prony (their installation was completed in 3.47). The beam outside her paddles was 36ft 3in



AVERNE paddle aviso (2nd class)

Displacement:	236t
Dimensions:	131ft 3in wl x 20ft 6in x 6ft 10in
Same, meters:	40.00 x 6.26 x 2.08m
Machinery:	100nhp (Indret). Oscillating cylinders, tubular boilers, 11.69kts
Hull material:	Iron
Armament:	2-12cm shell, 2 pierriers
Complement:	64

Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commiss.	Fate
AVERNE	Indret	2.47	17.6.48	19.6.48	Stk. 15.11.78

Class. This ship and the screw Ariel were added to the building program in 6.46 because of a shortage of small steamers in the 100 to 120nhp range. Averne was initially ordered at Brest on plans by Gervaize, but was reassigned to Indret and apparently built on Joffre's plans for Anacréon. Her engines used Penn's pattern of oscillating cylinders and, though rated at 100nhp, developed 120nhp.

Disposal. Averne was BU 1880.