When war broke out in 1870 between France and Germany the fleet of the former proved unequal to the task of effecting any serious diversion on the German Coast in the North Sea and Baltic. After the war France steadily set to work on the reconstruction and strengthening of her fleet. A programme of shipbuilding was drawn up in 1872; but this was modified in 1879, and again in 1881. A brief description of the vessels built under these programmes followed.