Overview
Tonnante was one of five French Dévastation-class armored floating batteries built during the Crimean War.
Tonnante is associated with France and French Navy. It belonged to Dévastation class, so the class page provides the shared design history while this page concentrates on the individual ship.
Construction and identity
The available construction record identifies Tonnante as built by Arsenal de Brest.
The ship's documented identity includes service with French Navy.
Service history
One of the five Dévastation-class batteries and one of the three sent to the Black Sea for the attack on Kinburn.
The ship's configuration should be interpreted through the documented class and the dates attached to this individual vessel; equipment should not be assumed to have remained unchanged throughout service.
Class context: Dévastation class
The Dévastation class comprised five French armored floating batteries built in 1854–1855 for attacks on fortified coasts during the Crimean War. Their shallow draft, steam propulsion, heavy guns, and iron protection made them specialized siege craft rather than ocean-going fleet ships.
As a member of Dévastation class, Tonnante shared the class's documented design framework and intended roles of Coastal bombardment. Individual refits, transfers, and wartime changes belong to this ship only when separately documented.
Later service and disposition
Removed from French Navy service. The associated date is 1871.
Tonnante matters as an individual career within Dévastation class, allowing class-wide design history to be separated from this ship's own construction, identities, service, and fate.
Class relationship
This ship is recorded as a member of Dévastation class. Shared design history belongs on the class page; this page concentrates on the individual hull where evidence is available.
Sources and further reading
- Les Merveilles de la science — Les Bâtiments cuirassés ↗Louis Figuier / Wikisource transcription · accessed 2026-09-18
- USS Tecumseh Management Plan — Historical Background ↗Naval History and Heritage Command · accessed 2026-09-18