Surveillante-class frigate explained

The Surveillante class was a type of sixty-gun frigate of the French Navy, designed in 1823 by Mathurin-François Boucher.[1]

One of the main innovations with respect to previous design was the disappearance of the gangways, which provided a flush deck capable of harbouring a complete second battery. With the standardisation on the 30-pounder calibre for all naval ordnance that occurred in the 1820s, this design allowed for a frigate throwing a 900-pound broadside, thrice the firepower of the 40-gun that constituted the majority of the frigate forces during the Empire, and comparable to that of a 74-gun.

By far the best-known ship of the class is, which achieved fame when she transported the ashes of Napoléon back to France in the so-called Retour des cendres; for this occasion, she was painted all black, a colour scheme that she retained later in her career, but which is uncharacteristic of the ships of this type.

Builder: Lorient

Begun:

Launched: 29 September 1825

Completed:

Fate: deleted 22 August 1844.

Builder: Cherbourg

Begun:

Launched: 28 June 1828

Completed:

Fate: renamed Indépendante 9 August 1830, deleted 24 October 1860.

Builder: Cherbourg

Begun:

Launched: 28 July 1828

Completed:

Fate: deleted 20 March 1845.

Builder: Lorient

Begun:

Launched: 25 August 1828

Completed:

Fate: wrecked off Bermuda 3 December 1838.

Builder: Cherbourg

Begun:

Launched: 26 March 1834

Completed:

Fate: deleted 19 March 1861.

Builder: Lorient

Begun:

Launched: 6 February 1841

Completed:

Fate: wrecked 16 February 1855 off Bonifacio.

Builder: Lorient

Begun:

Launched: 8 March 1841

Completed:

Fate: deleted 17 August 1869.

Builder: Cherbourg

Begun:

Launched: 16 September 1841

Completed:

Fate: deleted 23 October 1883.

Builder: Lorient

Begun:

Launched: 15 August 1860

Completed:

Fate: hulked 23 October 1883

Sources and references

Sources

Notes and References

  1. http://mnm.webmuseo.com/ws/musee-national-marine/app/collection/record/9669 Maquette de bateau, Belle Poule, frégate de 1er rang, 1834
  2. Roche, p. 428
  3. Roche, p. 69
  4. Roche, p. 304
  5. Roche, p. 241
  6. Roche, p. 70
  7. Roche, p. 410
  8. Roche, p. 41
  9. Roche, p. 208
  10. Roche, p. 339