An item reported that on 3 July at Rochefort the gunboat 2nd class Mitraille was launched. Her keel was laid down in 1882. Dimensions were 50,30 x 9,94 x 3,15 (avarage) with a displacement of 1.045 ton. Steel-built, a large number of transverse bulkheads, a protected deck over her complete length and belt with a maximum thickness of 24 cm. The armament consisted of 1-24cm gun in a turret fore and further more 1-9cm gun, a number of quick firing guns and a torpedo launcher. The two engines supplied totally 1.500 hp and allowed via the two screws a speed of 13 miles (design). Unrigged. Including her possessed the French navy on short notice four gunboats of this kind called the Fusée (trials going on) and the Grenade and Flamme still on stocks. Costs of each gunboat amounted 1.505.000 francs (hull 780.000, engines 525.000 and armament 200.00 francs).
