The Colbert class were a pair of armored frigates built for the French Navy during the 1870s.

The sister ships took part in the French conquest of Tunisia, notably shelling and landing troops in Sfax in 1881.

[5] The Colbert class had a single Wolf three-cylinder horizontal return connecting-rod compound steam engine that drove one propeller.

The engine was powered by eight oval boilers and was designed for a capacity of 4,700 metric horsepower; 3,400 kilowatts (4,600 ihp).

[2] On sea trials the engines produced 4,652–4,882 metric horsepower (3,422–3,591 kW) and the ships reached speeds of 14.18–14.47 knots (26.26–26.80 km/h; 16.32–16.65 mph).

[3] They were ship rigged with three masts and had a sail area around 2,100 square meters (23,000 sq ft).

The side of the upper deck were cut away to improve the ability of the barbette guns to bear fore and aft.

[8] At some point the ship received fourteen to eighteen 37-millimeter (1.5 in) Hotchkiss 5-barrel revolving guns.

[2] The sisters bombarded the port of Sfax on 15–16 July 1881 as the French occupied Tunisia, under the command of Vice Admiral Henri Garnault.