Gazelle Class

This class was designed by Marestier following his return from a trip to the United States to study steam navigation and naval architecture there . He used ideas from American designs and completed his plans for a class of "schooner-brigs" with 16-18p carronades in 5.21 .

In 4.26 Marestier produced a plan of a schooner-brig entirely rigged as a brig , and subsequent ships were probably built with this rig and a reduced armament. (Eclipse was rerigged 9.29.)

On 14.1.30 the class was formally given the new designation brig-aviso and assigned an armament of 12-18p carronades and 2-12p, which was further reduced on 15.8.32 (8-18p carr. , 2-12p.) .

The number of 18p guns was increased to ten on 9.9.39 (10-18p carr. , 2-12p.) to provide officers of the newly-created grade of Capitaine de Corvette with enough suitable commands (ships with more than ten guns) .

Several c1845 : 4-16cm shell

The height of the battery above the water was 4ft 3in .

Masts as brig-aviso : Main 44ft 5in x 1ft 7in; Fore 38ft 11in x 1ft 5in. Sail area 1112 sq.yd .

At least three non-naval ships were built to this design: Sylvestre, Dupont de Nemours, and Ecrevisse.