[3] Trident had a single Wolf three-cylinder horizontal return connecting-rod compound steam engine that drove one propeller.

[2] On sea trials, the engine produced 4,882 metric horsepower (3,591 kW) and Trident reached 14.18 knots (26.26 km/h; 16.32 mph).

[1] Trident was 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.

The 274-millimeter Modèle 1870 gun was credited with the ability to penetrate a maximum 14.3 inches (360 mm) of wrought iron armor while the 240-millmeter Modèle 1870 gun could penetrate 14.4 inches (366 mm) of wrought iron armor.

[8] Trident, named after the weapon that symbolized mastery of the seas,[9] was laid down in April 1870 in Toulon and launched on 9 November 1876.

[2] Trident, together with her sister ship Colbert, bombarded the Tunisian port of Sfax on 15–16 July 1881 as the French occupied Tunisia.