Tonnerre was the lead ship of a class of two coastal defense breastwork monitors built for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) in the 1870s.

On 10 November 1871, the Minister of the Navy (Ministère de la Marine) Louis Pierre Alexis Pothuau issued a specification for a new coastal defense ship.

Of the three alternatives submitted on 9 August 1872, the French Navy accepted that developed by Louis de Bussy, which was signed on 29 July.

With similarity to the Royal Navy monitor Glatton but with a shorter breastwork, the design was agreed and built as class of two vessels, the first named Tonnerre.

[1] A breastwork monitor that had hull of steel, Tonnerre had a single turret forward and a narrow superstructure 1.8 m (6 ft) wide aft.

Steam was provided by eight reinforced high rectangular tubular boilers that were designed to run at a pressure of 2.25 kg/cm3 (81 lb/cu in).

While undertaking sea trials, Tonnerre reached a speed of 14.07 knots (26.1 km/h; 16.2 mph) from 4,166 ihp (3,107 kW).

[2] Defence from torpedo boats was provided by four 121-millimetre (4.8 in) 17-caliber 12-pounder bronze guns mounted at the corners of the flying deck, raised above the hull.

[8] On 7 September 1894, it was announced that the vessel was to be retired from active service and replaced by the newer ironclad Jemmapes.

[9] French naval doctrine was changing and the focus on coastal defense was being replaced by one of larger sea-going warships.