 Colbert at anchor
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Colbert |
| Operators |  French Navy |
| Preceded by | Richelieu |
| Succeeded by | Redoutable |
| Built | 1870–78 |
| In service | 1877–1900 |
| In commission | 1877–95 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Scrapped | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Central-battery ironclad |
| Displacement | 8,614–8,814 metric tons (8,478–8,675 long tons) |
| Length | 101.1–102.1 m (331 ft 8 in – 335 ft 0 in) (o/a) |
| Beam | 17.57–17.7 m (57 ft 8 in – 58 ft 1 in) |
| Draft | 8.11–8.58 m (26.6–28.1 ft) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 1 shaft, 1 Horizontal return connecting-rod steam engine |
| Sail plan | Ship rigged |
| Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Range | 3,300 nautical miles (6,100 km; 3,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 750 |
| Armament |
|
| Armor | |
The Colbert class were a pair of armored frigates built for the French Navy during the 1870s. The ships served as the flagships of the commander and deputy commander of the Mediterranean Squadron for most of their careers. The sister ships took part in the French conquest of Tunisia, notably shelling and landing troops in Sfax in 1881. They were relegated to second-line roles in 1894–95 before being condemned in 1900. The ships were finally sold for scrap in 1909.