Endre, Romanche and La Manche.

[Birgir Thorisson]

Hello:

There seem to be some french naval ships missing from the authoritative publication; Conway´s all the world´s fighting ships 1860-1905.

I have come across references to ships named; Endre, Romanche (or La Romanche) and La Manche.

Those ships were used in the 1880s and 1890s as fishery protection vessels in the North Atlantic.

Does anyone have any information about these vessels? Is there an explanation of why they are missing?

Regards:

Birgir Thorisson

[patroclus]

Originally Posted by Birgir Thorisson

Hello:

There seem to be some french naval ships missing from the authoritative publication; Conway´s all the world´s fighting ships 1860-1905.

I have come across references to ships named; Endre, Romanche (or La Romanche) and La Manche.

Those ships were used in the 1880s and 1890s as fishery protection vessels in the North Atlantic.

Does anyone have any information about these vessels? Is there an explanation of why they are missing?

Regards:

Birgir Thorisson

LA ROMANCHE made a scientific voyage to Cape Horn in 1882-3. This is quite a well-known event. She was commanded by Captain L.F. Martial. Apart from the official report, at least one book was written about this expedition (by Doctor Hyades). I have seen her described as a steam-frigate, a sloop and a transport but she may have been specially built for hydrographic work. Photographs, paintings/sketches of her must exist.

[BlackBat242]

Probably they were not actual warships, but rather other vessels temporarily pressed into service?

I'm not sure Conway's normally included what are essentially "coast guard" vessels for that period.

[Birgir Thorisson]

In late 19th century, The French navy maintained patrols covering the fishing fleets off Newfoundland (St.Pierre & Miquelon), and Iceland. There were normally two ships around Iceland, one larger, (The Dupleix 1876-86, the Chateaurenault 1887-1891) etc, and one smaller, (the Lionne, the Romanche, the "Endre" (spelling not certain) and the La Manche. These ships seem to have been crewed by regular navy personnel. It is therefore unlikely that they belonged to different organizations. That is why I am perplexed by the exclusion of ships as e.g. the Romanche.

Birgir Thorisson

[patroclus]

Originally Posted by Birgir Thorisson

In late 19th century, The French navy maintained patrols covering the fishing fleets off Newfoundland (St.Pierre & Miquelon), and Iceland. There were normally two ships around Iceland, one larger, (The Dupleix 1876-86, the Chateaurenault 1887-1891) etc, and one smaller, (the Lionne, the Romanche, the "Endre" (spelling not certain) and the La Manche. These ships seem to have been crewed by regular navy personnel. It is therefore unlikely that they belonged to different organizations. That is why I am perplexed by the exclusion of ships as e.g. the Romanche.

Birgir Thorisson

If the LA ROMANCHE is the same ship mentioned in my earlier post, she could well have been excluded as she may have been of no fighting value (see Conways "Foreword"). This volume of Conways seems, for instance, to exclude hydrographic vessels.

[Le Breton]

LA MANCHE

'Transport' or 'aviso transport'

Builder : Cherbourd dockyard
Laid down : 27/01/1885
Launched : 16/10/1890

1891 : Newfoundland station
1892-1897 laid-up
01/1898 - 09/1898 Newfoundland station
05/10/1898- 02/1899 laid-up
04/1899 - 09/1898 Newfoundland and Island station
10/04 - 08-1900 Islande station

04/1903 -06-1904 Newfoundland station

Survey ship Indochine 1905

Sold 1923


Endre ?????




ROMANCHE

aviso transport

builder : Augustin Normand, Le Havre

Laid down : 20/03/1878
Launched 15/12/1879

Islande station 04/1884

Stricken 09/10/1899

[Birgir Thorisson]

Le Breton:

Thank you for this information.

I am pretty sure that La Mance was off Iceland at least in some years between 1892-1897. (Why lay up a new ship?)

The spelling for Endre is uncertain. I have the names from Icelandic newspapers, and they vary considerably. Could possible be Indre?

Have you seen photos of those ships?

Patroclus:
Agree that the fighting value was limited. However, they seem to have been armed.

Birgir Thorisson.