The French torpedo-transport or depot ship Foudre (length 370 feet 6 inches, beam 52 feet 6 inches, draught 23 feet 6 inches; displacement 5875 tons (English), was launched at the Chantiers de la Gironde on the 20th of October 1895. The Foudre was equipped with overhead gear for launching and retrieving the ten aluminium vedette torpedo boats, which she was to carry on her deck. Creusot at Chalons-sur-Saone built nine of these and Messrs. Yarrow and Company, Poplar, built the tenth, which was the pattern boat for the other nine. See also ' An aluminium torpedo boat.' The Engineer, vol. 78, 5 October 1894, pp. 292-294.