| Article number: | 10.07.024 |
A station sloop from France during the 1st and 2nd Empire (circa 1804–1815 and 1852–1870) is a typical maritime vessel used by the navy or port services for various tasks. Here is an overview:
A station sloop was a sloop that served as a service boat at a maritime station or port.
These sloops were used for transporting people and goods between larger ships and the shore, for mooring and unmooring ships, and for carrying out surveillance tasks in port areas.
They were sturdily built, relatively large for a sloop, and usually equipped with oars and sometimes a sail.
Material: usually wood.
Length: typically between 6 and 10 metres.
Steering: oars, sometimes with a small sailing rig.
Design: often round-bilged, sometimes with a slightly raised transom (stern) and stem (bow).
Armament: generally none; they were service boats, not combat vessels.
During the 1st Empire (Napoleon I), these sloops were widely used in naval bases along the French coast, such as Toulon, Brest, and Cherbourg.
During the 2nd Empire (Napoleon III), they were further modernised, sometimes with improved rigging and sturdier constructions, and remained in use for administrative and support tasks.
They also sometimes served as a pilot sloop or for patrolling in ports and along the coast.
They resemble classic naval sloops, with wooden benches, often six to ten rowing positions.
Sometimes equipped with a centreboard with a small mast and gaff rig, allowing them to sail in favourable winds.
Often equipped with small storage compartments for equipment and sometimes a foldable canopy.
There are museum pieces and models in French maritime museums, for example in the Musée national de la Marine in Paris and Toulon.
Drawings and construction plans describing these sloops have also been preserved in French archives.
Specifications :
|
Drawing number |
10.07.024 |
|
Description |
Station sloop, France, (1st and 2nd Empire) |
|
Quality |
frames; side view; deck plan; cross-sections; details |
|
Scale |
1 : 25 |
|
Number of sheets A00 |
0 |
|
Number of sheets A0 |
1 |
|
Number of sheets A1 |
0 |
|
Number of sheets A2 |
0 |
|
Number of sheets A3 |
0 |
|
Number of sheets A4 |
0 |
|
Total number of drawing sheets |
1 |
|
Number of A4 text sheets |
0 |
|
Weight in grams |
105 |
|
Special features |
Drawing from Musée de la Marine, Paris |