They built boats for the force and served in their primary role as an elite unit to bolster naval crews, which often had little training or experience.

When the invasion was called off, part of the unit fought in the 1805 Austrian campaign, fighting at Ulm and Austerlitz.

The unit had to be re-formed from scratch in March 1809 but was now only a single crew of 150 officers and men, which fought at Wagram led by Capitaine de vaisseau Pierre Baste, mainly as gunners.

It suffered badly in the Invasion of Russia, fighting in several battles and decimated by cold, hunger and disease - only 85 of its officers and men were still alive when the army crossed back into Germany.

Reorganised and brought up to strength with new recruits, the unit fought at Leipzig as part of the Young Guard's infantry.

[2] During the Hundred Days, one crew of 150 was re-formed,[3] which fought at Ligny and Waterloo - at the latter, they covered the retreat of the 1st Grenadier Regiment and 1st Foot Chasseurs of the Old Guard.