Fleurus

The French cruiser Fleurus was a torpedo cruiser of the Wattignies class that was built for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) in the early 1890s. The ship had a main battery of five 100 mm (3.9 in) quick-firing guns, complemented by lighter guns and four 356 mm (14 in) torpedo tubes. Launched in 1891 in Rochefort, Fleurus was commissioned into the Mediterranean Squadron as part of the reserve. Trials demonstrated problems with the Admiralty boilers which, despite being replaced twice, meant that the ship was not ready for active service until they were replaced by Niclausse boilers. The cruiser was commissioned into the Northern Squadron (Escadre du Nord) in Brest. After 30 months, the cruiser was decommissioned. In 1910, the ship joined the school for engineers at Lorient, and, two years later, returned to Rochefort as a hulk. In 1928, Fleurus was sold to be broken up.