Also called corvette or gunboat because of her being so little. Designed under supervision of Emile Bertin.(1) Building ordered under the 1885 Fiscal Year, laid down at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan in June 1887, launched in March 1889, completed on 15 March 1890, after 1905 used as test ship in developing new boilers and broken up and 1 April 1911.
Used for aviso and scouting tasks. Full barque rigging. Displacement 1.609 tons and as dimensions 96,9 (waterline) x 10,5 x 4 metres or 317’11”x 34’5” x 13’1”. Machinery consisted of 1-3 cylinder triple expansion steam engine from Hawthorn Leslie and Company, England and 6 locomotive-type cylindrical since 1902 8 Niclausse boilers (and a second smoke stack) delivered 5.630 hp allowing a speed of 20,75 knots. With a speed of 10 knots and a coal bunker capacity of 350 tons was her range 5.000 nautical miles. Crew numbered 200 men. Armament consisted of 3-4.7” quick firing guns, 8-3pd Hotchkiss quick firing guns and 2-45,7cm/18” torpedo launchers mounted on deck.
Note
1. Louis-Émile Bertin (23 March 1840 Nancy, France-22 October 1924 La Glacerie, Manche, France), he was a major supporter of the French Jeune École ideas which favoured building of light heavily armed warships instead of large battleships.
