Ship Type Menu.Converted screw frigates (2nd class, launched 1859-69)
MAGICIENNE class (launched 1861-62)
HERMIONE class (launched 1860-61)
ASTREE (launched 1859)
CIRCE class (launched 1860-69)
MAGICIENNE class
converted screw frigates (2nd class)| Displacement: | 3408t |
| Dimensions: | 244ft 0in wl, 248ft 4in (Thémis 247ft 4in) deck x 47ft 3in ext x 20ft 11in mean |
| Same, meters: | 74.36, 75.69 (75.39) x 14.40 x 6.38m |
| Machinery: | 600nhp (FCM). 2 cylinders, trials (Thémis) 1611ihp = 11.0kts |
| Hull material: | Wood |
| Armament: | (Magicienne, 1862) GD 24-16cm M1858 MLR; SD 4-16cm M1858 MLR. (Thémis, 1865) GD 24-16cm rifles; SD 4-16cm rifles. (Thémis, 1867) GD 18-30p No.1, 8-16cm rifles; SD 6-16cm rifles. (Thémis, 1872) GD 12-16cm M1864-6 BLR; SD 6-16cm M1858-60 MLR (replaced in 1879 by 6-14cm M1870 BLR and 4 Hotchkiss). (Magicienne, 1879) GD 16-14cm M1870 BLR; SD 4-14cm M1870 BLR, 4 Hotchkiss |
| Complement: | 415 |
| Name | Conversion | Started | Launched | Commiss. | Fate |
| MAGICIENNE | Toulon | 10.59 | 28.12.61 | 8.1.62 | Stk. 19.4.86 |
| THEMIS | Toulon | 1858 | 29.4.62 | 21.11.62 | Stk. 7.11.82 |
Class. Two of eight sail frigates on the ways for which engines were ordered 6.58. They were converted on plans by De Roussel approved in 1.58. Installation of their machinery was completed in 9.62 and 5.63 respectively.
Disposals. Magicienne replaced
Pomone as a barracks hulk at Brest. In 1895 she replaced
Sémiramis as headquarters hulk and assumed that ship's name. She was BU 1900.
Thémis became a storage hulk at Lorient and was BU 1922.
HERMIONE class
converted screw frigates (2nd class)| Displacement: | 3550t |
| Dimensions: | 242ft 2in wl, 258ft 4in deck x 45ft 6in ext x 22ft 0in mean, 23ft 11in max. |
| Same, meters: | 73.80, 78.75 x 13.88 x 6.70, 7.28m |
| Machinery: | 600nhp (Schneider). 2 cylinders, return connecting rod, trials 12.3kts (Hermione), 11.60kts (Junon). Coal 500t |
| Hull material: | Wood |
| Armament: | (Both 1861) GD 24-16cm M1858 MLR; SD 4-16cm M1858 MLR. (Junon 1863) GD 16-30p No.1, 10-16cm rifles; SD 4-16cm rifles. (Both 1867-8) GD 12-30p No.1, 2-22cm shell, 10-16cm rifles; SD 4-16cm rifles |
| Complement: | 415 |
| Name | Conversion | Started | Launched | Commiss. | Fate |
| HERMIONE | Brest | 16.4.59 | 15.8.60 | 1.12.60 | Stk. 11.5.77 |
| JUNON | Brest | 1859 | 28.1.61 | 16.4.61 | Stk. 24.3.72 |
Class. Two of eight sail frigates on the ways for which engines were ordered 6.58. They were converted on plans by Courbebaisse approved in 5.58 and modified in 12.58 by Zédé, who added 6ft 7in aft. The armament given them in 1861 was found to be too heavy and was subsequently reduced.
Hermione was converted to a steam transport in 1868.
Disposals. Hermione became a school hulk for mechanics and was BU 1892.
Junon was BU 1876.
ASTREE converted screw frigate (2nd class)| Displacement: | 3564t |
| Dimensions: | 251ft 3in wl, 254ft 6in deck x 47ft 3in ext x 20ft 10in mean |
| Same, meters: | 76.58, 77.58 x 14.40 x 6.36m |
| Machinery: | 600nhp (FCM). 2 cylinders, trials 1411ihp = 11.21kts. Coal 464t |
| Hull material: | Wood |
| Armament: | (1865) GD 24-16cm rifles; SD 4-16cm rifles. (1868) GD 12-16cm M1864-6 BLR; SD 4-16cm M1858-60 MLR |
| Complement: | 415 |
| Name | Conversion | Started | Launched | Commiss. | Fate |
| ASTREE | Lorient | 1859 | 24.12.59 | 9.3.60 | Stk. 3.5.77 |
Class. One of eight sail frigates on the ways for which engines were ordered 6.58. She was converted on plans by Sollier. Installation of her machinery was completed in 12.60.
Disposal. Astrée became a barracks and storage hulk at Lorient, was renamed
Ponton no. 2 in 1913, and was BU 1922.
CIRCE class
converted screw frigate (2nd class)| Displacement: | 3136t |
| Dimensions: | 244ft 9in wl, 248ft 6in (Flore 249ft 6in) deck x 44ft 0in mld, 45ft 5in ext x 20ft 4in mean |
| Same, meters: | 74.60, 75.75 (76.05) x 13.40, 13.84 x 6.20m |
| Machinery: | 480nhp (Rochefort). 2-cylinder trunk, trials (Flore) 1465ihp = 12.49kts. Coal 377t |
| Hull material: | Wood |
| Armament: | (Circé, 1866) GD 12-30p No.1, 14-16cm rifles; SD 4-30p No.1. (Circé, 1868) GD 18-16cm M1860 BLR; SD 4-16cm M1858-60 MLR. (Flore, 1870) GD 12-16cm M1864-6 BLR; SD 4-16cm M1864-6 BLR. (Flore, 1873) GD 12-16cm M1864-6 BLR; SD 6-14cm No.1 M1864 MLR. (Flore, 1876, training ship) GD 12-14cm M1870 BLR; SD 2-14cm M1870 BLR. (Flore, 1883) GD 18-14cm M1870 BLR; SD 4-14cm M1870 BLR, 3-10cm, 8 revolvers |
| Complement: | 415 |
| Name | Conversion | Started | Launched | Commiss. | Fate |
| CIRCE | Rochefort | ? | 15.10.60 | 12.11.62 | Stk. 22.7.72 |
| FLORE | Rochefort | 1860 | 27.2.69 | 12.69 | Stk. 18.10.86 |
Class. In 3.58 these two sail frigates on the ways at Rochefort were each allocated half of a 4-cylinder 900nhp engine built there for the ship of the line
Intrépide. Plans by Brun for dividing the engine (originally designed by Sabattier) were approved 3.58, and plans by Vidal for converting the ships were approved 9.58.
Flore was designated in June 1876 to replace
Renommée as seagoing training ship.
Disposals. Circé was BU 1875.
Flore as a hulk became the flagship of the Maritime Prefect at Brest in 1888 and was BU 1901.
Copyright © Stephen S. Roberts 2004-2015.