The French destroyer Durandal (length 188 feet 8 inches overall, beam 20 feet 8 inches; draught 10 feet 5 inches) launched on the 11th of February 1899, and the Hallabarde that was soon to follow, were more heavily built than contemporary British destroyers. A peculiarity of their design was a wooden 'buffer,' in the bow, similar to a small spar torpedo. This was in case of collision.