French ironclad Gauloise

Gauloise before 1883
History
France
NameGauloise
NamesakeGauloise
Ordered16 November 1860
BuilderArsenal de Brest
Laid down24 January 1861
Launched26 April 1865
Commissioned5 December 1867
Stricken13 October 1883
FateScrapped, 1884–1886
General characteristics (as completed)
Class and typeProvence-class ironclad frigate
Displacement5,810 t (5,720 long tons)
Length82.9 m (272 ft) (o/a)
Beam17.06 m (56 ft)
Draft8.4 m (27 ft 7 in) (deep load)
Installed power
Propulsion1 shaft, 1 HRCR-steam engine
Sail planBarque-rig
Speed14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph)
Range2,410 nautical miles (4,460 km; 2,770 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement579–594
Armament
Armor

The French ironclad Gauloise was one of 10 Provence-class armored frigates built for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) during the 1860s. Commissioned in 1867, she was initially assigned to the Northern Squadron (Escadre du Nord) and usually served as a flagship. The ironclad played a minor role in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871, blockading the Baltic and North Sea coasts of Prussia.

The ship was repeatedly placed in and out of reserve during the 1870s and spent the rest of her career in the Mediterranean, serving with the Squadron of Evolutions (Escadre d'évolutions) of the Mediterranean Squadron (Escadre de la Méditerranée) and later the Levant Naval Division (Division navale du Levant). Gauloise was condemned in 1883 and subsequently scrapped.