Designed by the French naval architect Henri Dupuy de Lôme, the ships of the class were intended to fight in the line of battle, unlike the first British ironclads.

[3] She carried a maximum of 675 tonnes (664 long tons) of coal which allowed her to steam for 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) at a speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).

[4] The Gloire-class ships were initially fitted with a light barquentine rig with three masts that had a sail area around 1,100 square metres (11,800 sq ft).

This was later changed to a full ship rig of 2,500 square metres (27,000 sq ft), but later had to be reduced because excessive rolling.

[3] In July 1862, Normandie became the first ironclad to cross the Atlantic, as the flagship of Vice Admiral Edmond Jurien de La Gravière, on her way to support the French intervention in Mexico.

The ship was assigned to the ironclad squadron commanded by Rear Admiral Didelot during the Franco-Prussian War, but saw no action.