The Algésiras-class ships were repeats of the pioneering ship of the line and were also designed by naval architect Henri Dupuy de Lôme. They had a length at the waterline of 71.23m (233.69feet), a beam of 16.8m (55.1feet) and a depth of hold of 8.16m (26.77feet). The ships displaced 5121t and had a draught of 8.45m (27.72feet) at deep load. Their crew numbered 913 officers and ratings.[1]
The primary difference between Napoléon and the Algésiras class was that the boilers of the latter ships were moved forward of the engines. Arcole was powered by a pair of four-cylinder horizontal-return connecting-rod steam engines that drove the single propeller shaft using steam provided by eight boilers. The engines were rated at 900 nominal horsepower[1] and produced 3600PS which gave her a speed of 13kn.[2] The ships were fitted with three masts and ship rigged.[1]
The armament of the Algésiras-class ships consisted of eighteen 36-pounder smoothbore cannon and sixteen Paixhans guns on the lower gundeck and thirty-four 30-pounder cannon on the upper gundeck. On the quarterdeck and forecastle were twenty 30-pounder cannon and a pair of rifled muzzle-loading guns.[1]
Arcole took part in the Second Italian War of Independence, and was broken up in 1872.