Transports, 1859-1882: Photo Gallery

Sarthe class (Horse transport) at Brest alongside the decommissioned transport Marne. Probably photographed by Émile Mage. (Photo: Wikimedia from Musée Bretagne FLMjo134339, inv. 2013-4-2)

Aveyron (Horse transport). This ship was wrecked in a storm off Cape Guardafui on 21 August 1884. (Drawing: L'Illustration, 6 September 1884, p. 156)

Creuse (Horse transport) in the floating drydock at Saigon. She served until 1891. (Photo: Facebook by Vladimir Yakubov on 24.7.2021)

Européen (2350-ton transport) on the Charente in 1885. (Photo: Facebook by Andrey Myatishkin on 4.7.2022 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_344)

Charente (1000-ton transport) after conversion to a cable layer in 1873. She remained on the Navy list but operated for the Ministry of the Interior. (Photo: )

Bièvre (1000-ton transport). (Photo: Facebook by Andrey Myatishkin on 7.9.2023 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_30)

Vienne or Isère (900-ton transport) moored near the château at Brest. Both ships were employed in the service du littoral on the French coast. This location, often with a large collection of lighters, appears to have been used mainly for handling cargo until it was occupied by the stationary sail training ship Saône. (Photo: ArcMunBrest-2fi11596)

Vienne or Isère (900-ton transport) headed downstream through the Pont National at Brest. Note the capstan in the roadway on the bridge manned by four men. One such team on each side could fully open the bridge in 20 minutes. The stern of Sâone is on the left. Amiral Duperré, in the background, lost her mainmast in 1899 and left Brest in November 1903. Vienne was lost that December. (Photo: Postcard, ArcMunBrest-3fi114-086)

Caravane (900-ton transport) loading a large object as cargo at Rochefort. Note the unusual shape of her bow. (Photo: Facebook by Andrey Myatishkin on 16.1.2022 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_85)

Caravane (900-ton transport) loading a large object as cargo at Rochefort. (Photo: Facebook by Andrey Myatishkin on 16.1.2022 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_84)

Annamite (Colonial transport). She was the only one of this type with wooden hull planking and some wooden frames. (Photo: NHHC NH 66058 from Farenholt collection)

Annamite (Colonial transport). She became a barracks hulk in 1896. (Photo: NHHC NH 66058 from Farenholt collection)

Mytho (Colonial transport). Ordered with Annamite but built with a mostly iron hull. (Photo: NHHC NH 66085 from Farenholt collection)

Mytho (Colonial transport) at Algiers ca. 1908. (Photo: Facebook by Alexandru Ioniță on 1.1.2024)

Bretagne, ex Mytho (Training ship). Renamed and replaced Bretagne, ex Fontenoy, as school for apprentice seamen and boys at Brest 1910 (engines removed but boilers retained). Renamed Armorique 1913. (Photo: Postcard)

Tonquin (Colonial transport). (Photo: NHHC NH 74899 from ONI album of French warships)

Duguay-Trouin, ex Tonquin (Training ship) passing under the transbordeur bridge in the Charente bound for Rochefort. She was renamed and became seagoing training ship for midshipmen in 1900, replacing Iphigénie. Hospital ship 1914-1922. Renamed Moselle 1922 and hulked. (Photo: Postcard)

Shamrock (Colonial transport) at Toulon ca. 1895. The ship astern may be Courbet or Dévastation. She was damaged in 1908 and was hulked. (Photo: NHHC NH 66090 from Farenholt collection)

Bien-Hoa (Colonial transport). She was used as a hospital ship 1915-1922. (Photo: Postcard)

Vinh-Long (Colonial transport). (Photo: NHHC NH 66101 from Farenholt collection)

Vinh-Long (Colonial transport). Converted to a hospital ship in 1916, she burned in the Sea of Marmara on 16 December 1924 with many on board being rescued by USS Bainbridge (DD-246). (Photo: NHHC NH 74924 from ONI album of French warships)

Nive (Colonial transport). She was wrecked near Casablanca in 1907. (Photo: NHHC NH 74896 from ONI album of French warships)

Gironde (Colonial transport). (Photo: NHHC NH 74877 from ONI album of French warships)

Tourville, ex Gironde (Training ship). Replaced Couronne as gunnery training ship at Toulon and renamed Tourville 1909. To harbor service and renamed Rhin 1924. (Photo: Postcard by E.L.D., forummarine.forumactif.com)