French Navy 1848-1852 - Second Republic
The year 1850 was destined to begin a new era in the French Navy. The Commission of Inquiry appointed by the Revolutionary Government had commenced its sittings. It would be a mistake to imagine that the change of government in France was the cause of its appointment. The policy which its existence indicated had already been inaugurated and steadily pursued by one of the Princes of the fallen Dynasty.
In the year 1844 the Prince De Joinville, possessed of considerable scientific knowledge and patriotism, and, from his position, enjoying better opportunities than any one else for carrying out his plans, set to work to recreate the French Navy, and by that means to restore to his country the maritime influence of which the unsuccessful issue of the last war had deprived her. The experiments in the construction of steam ships of war which the United States had been making were not lost upon the Prince. His sagacity anticipated the revolution with which his success must be attended. Accordingly, his chief care was directed to build and improve steam ships of war ; and specimens highly creditable to French skill were turned out of the dockyards.
The revolution of 1848 put a stop to his maturing his plans ; but the policy which he had traced was adopted and expanded by the government which succeeded him. The 1850 Commission of Inquiry first reduced to a determined scheme the visions of naval aggrandizement which had been floating before Joinville's eyes, and sketched the gigantic proportion of the present steam navy of France. To the present Fjnperor has fallen the task of realising the designs of his predecessors ; and it is but bare justice to him to say that he has applied himself to it with great skill and indomitable energy.
France's first war steamer was begun in 1847. But she was still unnamed when the Revolution of 1848 broke out, and christened her le 24 Fevner, which name was swiftly exchanged for that of Napoleon. Le Napoléon was the first purpose-built steam battleship in the world. She is also considered the first true steam battleship, and the first screw battleship ever. Launched in 1850, she was the lead ship of a class of 9 battleships, all considered as very successful and built over a period of 10 years. This class of ship was designed by the famous naval designer Dupuy de Lôme.
In the sitting of the 7th of February, 1851, it was decided unanimously that steam propulsion, by the screw, should be applied as soon as possible to all line-of-battle ships ; that, of the 27 ships then afloat, such only should undergo the necessary alteration and transformation as were in so good a state as not to require repairs exceeding 12/24 degrees towards completion ; that, of the rest, 13 should remain sailing vessels, their age and condition being such that the expense of transformation would uot be compensated by their ulterior services ; that these, therefore, should be fitted for, and continued to be used for service in peace, while new vessels, adapted to screw propulsion, should be constructed, to attain the number of 30, fixed by the Commission. It was accordingly resolved, that of the ships of the line afloat, 12 should be immediately adapted to receive screw propellers.
The number of vessels en chantier (on the stocks) is proposed to be reduced to 15 ; and, in conformity with the decree of the 7th of July, 1851, "that steam propulsion should be applied to all ships of the line," it was decided that the 15 en chantier should undergo the necessary transformation, as was done with respect to the "Turenne," at Rochfort, laid down in 1827. It was likewise decided that the 15 vessels in course of construction should severally be so far advanced as to be brought forward for launching in succession, at the rate of, at least, two in every year in peace ; but at the same time to bring the greater number to such a state of advancement, as to be able to provide much more rapidly for any great exigency.
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