Built as a gunboat first class at Rochefort for the French Navy.
Launched under the name La ZÉLÉE.
Displacement 680 tons, dim. 56.00 x 8.00 x 3.71m.
Powered by one 2-cyl triple expansion steam engine, 900 ihp., twin screws, speed 13.4 knots.
Bunker capacity 74 ton coal.
Armament 2 – 3.9 inch, 4 – 9pdr., 4 -1pdr. guns.
Crew 99.
1899 Completed.
When World War I broke out she was stationed in French Polynesia.
Used for all kind of work, including the transport of civilians between the islands during festivals.
September 1914 she was lying in the harbour of Papeete, Tahiti, and the French did known that the German East Asia Squadron was at sea near the Society Islands.
Lieutenant Maxima Destremeau at that times the commanding officer of La ZÉLÉE, knew he did not have any change against this German superior squadron, he therefore landed the naval guns and positioned them at shore.
22 September 1914 the German cruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU arrived off the entrance of the port, Destremeau set fire to the coal bunker and sailed his vessel to the entrance to scuttle her there, to block the harbour entrance.
The two cruisers opened fire and before the La ZÉLÉE was in a good position to block the entrance of the port she was sunk.
Some shells of the two German cruisers caused a major fire in the centre of Papeete.
The German did not attempt to land, and that is how the La ZÉLÉE and her commander put their mark on the history of French Polynesia.
Source: Conway’s, All the World’s Fighting Ships 1860 – 1905. Jane’s Fighting Ships 1914. Dictionary of Disasters at Sea, During the Age of Steam. 1824-1962 by Hocking.
http://www.tahitiphilatelie.pf/details_ ... 007&id=156