French ironclad Belliqueuse
Encyclopedia
The French ironclad Belliqueuse (Bellicose) was a wooden-hulled, armored corvette
, built for the French Navy
in the 1860s and designed as a cheap ironclad. She was the first French ironclad to sail around the world, which she did between December 1867 and May 1869. She spent the bulk of her career in the Pacific before returning to Toulon, where she was used as a target in 1886.
s and was very vulnerable to raking fire
. Like most ironclads of her era she was equipped with a bronze ram
; hers weighed 2200 kilograms (4,850.2 lb).
Belliqueuse measured 68.05 metre at the waterline
and 70 metre between perpendiculars, with a beam
of 14.01 metre. She had a draft of 6.97 metre and displaced 3777 tonnes (3,717.3 LT).
s. The engine produced a total of 1200 ihp and gave a top speed of 11 knots. On sea trial
s the engine produced 1227 ihp and the ship reached 11.83 knots (6.4 m/s). Belliqueuse carried 250 metric tons (246.1 LT) of coal which allowed the ship to steam for 1410 nautical miles (2,611.3 km) at a speed of 10 knots (5.4 m/s).
Belliqueuse was barque
-rigged; initially she had a sail area of 1450 sqm, but this was later increased to 1800 sqm in 1869.
each were added. They fired a shell weighing about 500 g (1.1 lb) at a muzzle velocity of about 610 m/s (2,001.3 ft/s) to a range of about 3200 metres (3,499.6 yd). They had a rate of fire of about 30 rounds per minute.
from the battery deck down to 1.5 metre below the waterline. The sides of the battery itself were protected with 120 millimetres (4.7 in) of armor, but the ends were closed only by light screens. Fore and aft of the battery, her sides were unprotected.
in September 1863, and launched on 6 September 1865. The ship began her sea trials on 30 December 1865, but did not enter service until 30 October 1866. That day she was commissioned as the flagship
of the Pacific Station under command of Rear Admiral Penhoat. On 22 December 1867, the ship departed Toulon in an attempt to circumnavigate the world. Belliqueuse arrived at Brest
on 26 May 1869 after 396 days at sea, the first French ironclad to do so. On 15 November 1869 she hoisted the flag of Rear Admiral Chevalier as commander of the Levant Squadron. During 1870 she was transferred to New Caledonia as flagship of the Western Pacific Division , but returned to Toulon on 5 June 1871 after the death of Rear Admiral Chevalier. In 1872 the ship was sent to the China Station and relieved as flagship of the station on 1 October 1872. She returned to Toulon on 3 May 1874.
Belliqueuse served with the Evolutionary Squadron for six months from 5 June 1877 and was reduced to reserve afterwards. She was paid off on 15 November 1884 and struck off the Navy List on 3 May 1886. Belliqueuse was used as a target afterwards.
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
, built for the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
in the 1860s and designed as a cheap ironclad. She was the first French ironclad to sail around the world, which she did between December 1867 and May 1869. She spent the bulk of her career in the Pacific before returning to Toulon, where she was used as a target in 1886.
Design and description
Belliqueuse was designed as a small and cheap ironcladIronclad is the all-encompassing term for armored warships of this period. Armored corvettes were originally designed for the same role as traditional wooden corvettes, but this rapidly changed as the size and expense of these ships caused them to be used as second-class armored ships. suitable for foreign deployments. Her armament and armor was concentrated in the middle of the ship like a central battery ironclad, but unlike those ships she lacked armored transverse bulkheadBulkhead (partition)
A bulkhead is an upright wall within the hull of a ship or within the fuselage of an airplane. Other kinds of partition elements within a ship are decks and deckheads.-Etymology:...
s and was very vulnerable to raking fire
Raking fire
In naval warfare, raking fire is fire directed parallel to the long axis of an enemy ship. Although each shot is directed against a smaller target profile than by shooting broadside and thus more likely to miss the target ship to one side or the other, an individual cannon shot that hits will pass...
. Like most ironclads of her era she was equipped with a bronze ram
Naval ram
A naval ram was a weapon carried by varied types of ships, dating back to antiquity. The weapon consisted of an underwater prolongation of the bow of the ship to form an armoured beak, usually between six and twelve feet in length...
; hers weighed 2200 kilograms (4,850.2 lb).
Belliqueuse measured 68.05 metre at the waterline
Waterline
The term "waterline" generally refers to the line where the hull of a ship meets the water surface. It is also the name of a special marking, also known as the national Load Line or Plimsoll Line, to be positioned amidships, that indicates the draft of the ship and the legal limit to which a ship...
and 70 metre between perpendiculars, with a beam
Beam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
of 14.01 metre. She had a draft of 6.97 metre and displaced 3777 tonnes (3,717.3 LT).
Propulsion
The ship had a single horizontal return connecting-rod steam engine driving a single propeller. Her engine was powered by four oval boilerBoiler (steam generator)
A boiler or steam generator is a device used to create steam by applying heat energy to water. Although the definitions are somewhat flexible, it can be said that older steam generators were commonly termed boilers and worked at low to medium pressure but, at pressures above this, it is more...
s. The engine produced a total of 1200 ihp and gave a top speed of 11 knots. On sea trial
Sea trial
A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft . It is also referred to as a "shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and can last from a few hours to many days.Sea trials are conducted to measure a vessel’s...
s the engine produced 1227 ihp and the ship reached 11.83 knots (6.4 m/s). Belliqueuse carried 250 metric tons (246.1 LT) of coal which allowed the ship to steam for 1410 nautical miles (2,611.3 km) at a speed of 10 knots (5.4 m/s).
Belliqueuse was barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
-rigged; initially she had a sail area of 1450 sqm, but this was later increased to 1800 sqm in 1869.
Armament
Belliqueuse mounted her four 194 millimetres (7.6 in) Modèle 1864 guns in the central battery on the battery deck along with four of her six 164 millimetres (6.5 in) Modèle 1864 guns. The other two 164 mm guns were carried on pivot mounts fore and aft on the upper deck. She was partially rearmed in 1870 and exchanged her 164-mm pivot guns for a pair of 138 millimetres (5.4 in) Modèle 1870 guns. In addition four 37 millimetres (1.5 in) Hotchkiss 5-barrel revolving gunsHotchkiss gun
The Hotchkiss gun can refer to different products of the Hotchkiss arms company starting in the late 19th century. It usually refers to the 1.65-inch light mountain gun; there was also a 3-inch Hotchkiss gun...
each were added. They fired a shell weighing about 500 g (1.1 lb) at a muzzle velocity of about 610 m/s (2,001.3 ft/s) to a range of about 3200 metres (3,499.6 yd). They had a rate of fire of about 30 rounds per minute.
Armor
Belliqueuse was completely armored with 150 millimetres (5.9 in) of wrought ironWrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
from the battery deck down to 1.5 metre below the waterline. The sides of the battery itself were protected with 120 millimetres (4.7 in) of armor, but the ends were closed only by light screens. Fore and aft of the battery, her sides were unprotected.
Service
Belliqueuse was laid down at ToulonToulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
in September 1863, and launched on 6 September 1865. The ship began her sea trials on 30 December 1865, but did not enter service until 30 October 1866. That day she was commissioned as the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the Pacific Station under command of Rear Admiral Penhoat. On 22 December 1867, the ship departed Toulon in an attempt to circumnavigate the world. Belliqueuse arrived at Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
on 26 May 1869 after 396 days at sea, the first French ironclad to do so. On 15 November 1869 she hoisted the flag of Rear Admiral Chevalier as commander of the Levant Squadron. During 1870 she was transferred to New Caledonia as flagship of the Western Pacific Division , but returned to Toulon on 5 June 1871 after the death of Rear Admiral Chevalier. In 1872 the ship was sent to the China Station and relieved as flagship of the station on 1 October 1872. She returned to Toulon on 3 May 1874.
Belliqueuse served with the Evolutionary Squadron for six months from 5 June 1877 and was reduced to reserve afterwards. She was paid off on 15 November 1884 and struck off the Navy List on 3 May 1886. Belliqueuse was used as a target afterwards.