bEFENCte
527
The French navy is manned partly by conscription and partly by volun- tary enlistment. By the channel of the 'Inscription Maritime,' which was introduced by Colbert, and on the lists of which are the names of all male individuals of the ' maritime population ' — that is, men and youths devoted to a seafaring life, from the 18th to the 50th year of age— France is provided with a reserve of 114,000 men, of whom about 25,500 are serving with the fleet. The time of service in the navy for the ' Inscrits ' is the same as that in the army, with similar conditions as to reserve duties, furloughs, and leave of absence for lengthened periods. It is enacted by the law of 1872 that a certain number of young men liable to service in the Active Army may select instead the naval service, if recognised fit for the duties, even if not enrolled in the ' Inscription Maritime.' The 'Inscription' will furnish at least 50,000 men more than the navy would require upon mobilization.
The tables which follow of the French armour-clad fleet and first-class cruisers are arranged chronologically, like the similar tables for the British navy. The ships named in italics in the first list are coast-defence vessels- The numbers following the names of the others indicate the classes to which they have been assigned in the foregoing statement of strength. Abbre- viations : h. , broadside ; c. &. , central battery ; t. turret ; bar, barbette ; Q. F. , quick-firing.
,5
.& 'C o
00
Name
Launched
Displace- ment. Tons
Extreme
Armouring.
Inches.
c. b.
Friedland (2)
1873
8,852
9
c. b.
Richelieu (3)
1873
8,984
8J
t. c. b.
Tonnerre Colbert (3) .
1875 1875
5,765 8,783
13
e. b.
Trident (3) .
1876
8,717
Bi
c. b.
Redoutable (-2) .
1876
9,288
14
t.
t.
t.
bar.
Tempite Fulminant . Vengeur Aniiral Duperre(l)
1876 1877 1878 1879
4,793
5,871
4,635
11,032
13 13 13 22
e. b.
Devastation (1) .
1879
10,535
15
bar.
Turenne (3).
1879
6,249
10
bar.
Bayard (3) .
1880
5,915
10
bar. bar.
Tonnant Terrible (2) .
1880 1881
5,010 7,455
18 20
e. b.
Courbet(l) .
1882
10,637
15
bar.
Vauban (3) .
1882
6,112
10
bar.
Duguesclin (3) .
1883
6,112
10
bar.
Amiral Baudin (1)
1883
11,723
22
bar.
Indomptable (2)
1883
7,513
20
Armament
loo
"S to
8 10-8in. ; 8 5-5in. ; 29 small
Q.F., &c. . . .
6 10-8in. ; 5 9-5in. ; 8 5-5in
25 small Q.F., &c. .
2 10-8in. ; 10 small Q.F., &c 8 lO-Sin. ; 2 9-5in. ; 6 5-5in.
26 small Q.F., &c. .
8 10 Sin. ; 2 9-5in. ; 6 5 'Sin.
25 small QF., &c. . 8 10-8in. ; 6 5-5in. ; 35 small
Q.F., (fee. . .
2 10-8in. ; 6 small Q.F., «tc 2 10-8in. ; 12 small Q.F., &c 2 13-4in. ; 8 small Q.F., (tc 4 13-4in. ; 1 5.5in. Q.F.; 14
4iu. ; 42 small Q.F., <fec. 4 12-6in.; 4 lOSin.; 6 5-5in.
27 small Q.F,,&c. .
4 9-5in.; 2 7-6in.; 6 5 Sin.; 16
small Q.F., <fec. 4 Qoin.; 2 76in.; 6 5'5in,
20 small Q.F., (fee. . 2 13-4in. ; 8 small. Q.F., <S:c 216-5in.;4 4in.Q.F.; 23 small
Q.F., &c. . 4 13-4in.; 410-8in.; 10 5-5in
40 small Q.F., &c. . 4 9"5iu.; 17'6in.; 6 5"5iu.;19
small Q.F., Ac. . 4 9 5in.; 1 7-6in.; 6 5-5in
16small Q.F., Ac. . 2 14-5in. ; 8 Ooin. Q.F. ; 10 5-5in.Q.F.:33smallQ.F.,(fec 2 10-8in. ; 6 3-9in. Q.F. ; 12
small Q.F., <fcc.
4,500
4,000 3,600
5,000
5,000
6,200 2,000 4 000 2,000
7,000
8,300
4,400
4,400 2,000
Knots
13-0 j
i 130 ' 12-9
I 14-4
141
14-8
12
13 , 10-9 I
15-0 I
- 150
■ 14-0
14-1 11-0
6,500
14-5
8,000
15-0
4,560
14-3
3,300
140
8,300
15-0
6,500
14-5
