The French Navy's La Gloire was the first ocean-going ironclad battleship in history.
She was developed following the Crimean War, in response to new developments in naval gun technology, especially the Paixhans guns and rifled guns, which used explosive shells with increased destructive power against wooden ships, and followed the development of the ironclad floating batteries built by the British and French for the bombardment of Russian forts during the Crimean War. She was designed by the French naval architect Dupuy de Lôme, and was launched at the arsenal of Mourillon, Toulon, on November 24, 1859. 2 sister-ships were built.
Displacement: 5,630 tonnes
Length: 77.8 m
Beam: 17 m
Draught: 8.4 m
Propulsion: Sail (1100 m²)
single shaft HRCR (horizontal return), 2,500 hp (1.9MW) steam engine, 8 oval boilers
Speed: 13 knots
Endurance: 665 tonnes of coal
Complement: 570 men
Armament: 36 × 163 mm rifled muzzle-loaders model (1858/60)
After 1866
8 × 239 mm and BL model 1864,
6 × 193 mm BL model 1866
Armour: 110 to 119 mm iron plates