Built as a three-masted aviso-transport by the Arsenal Rochefort in Rochefort for the French Navy.
1882 Ordered.
1885 Launched as the MEURTHE.
Displacement 1,600 ton, dim. 72 x 9.5 x 5.2m. (draught).
Auxiliary engine 1 Durance steam engine, 700 hp, one shaft, speed 10 knots.
Crew?
Commissioned?.
La MEURTHE is a propeller transport aviso launched in 1885 at Rochefort for the French Navy. It belongs to the series of Avisos DRÔME, EURE, AUBE, DURANCE, RANCE, and MANCHE.
In 1887, MEURTHE was assigned to the local resort of Reunion Island. In addition to its commander Lieutenant Frédéric Richard-Foy. the staff includes Ensign René Daveluy, future rear admiral. 1 While on a stopover at Diego-Suarez, Madagascar, the MEURTHE was sent to the Crozet Islands to rescue the castaways of the TAMARIS viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7812 who took refuge there. Before the arrival of the aviso, the castaways, short of provision, left their island aboard a rowboat and disappeared at sea.
The commander of the MEURTHE, Frédéric Richard-Foy published an account of this mission.
In November 1900, the MEURTHE leaves Brest to go to New Caledonia and replace the EURE transport advisory there intended to become a pontoon.
June 1907 decommissioned.
Broken up in Noumea.
Philately
In January 2021, the French Southern and Antarctic Territories postal services issue a stamp with a face value of € 1.20, representing the MEURTHE advisory on a mission to the Crozet Islands
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEURTHE_(aviso)
French Southern and Antarctic Territories 2021 1.20 Euro, sg?, Scott?