The Lalande was a protected cruiser of the Troude class, constructed for the French Navy in the late 1880s and completed in late 1890. She measured approximately 95 meters (311 feet 8 inches) in length at the waterline, with a beam of 9.5 meters (31 feet 2 inches) and an average draft of 4.27 meters (14 feet). Displacing around 1,877 tons (1,847 long tons), the ship was crewed by about 200 officers and enlisted men. Her propulsion system comprised two compound steam engines driving two screw propellers, powered by five coal-fired fire-tube boilers connected to two funnels. This machinery was rated at 6,300 indicated horsepower, enabling a top speed of 20.5 knots (38 km/h; 23.6 mph). At a cruising speed of 10 knots, Lalande could steam approximately 2,110 nautical miles (3,910 km). Armament included a main battery of four 138.6 mm (5.46-inch) 30-caliber guns mounted in sponsons amidships, with two guns per broadside, suitable for reconnaissance duties. For close defense, she was equipped with four 47 mm (1.9-inch) and four 37 mm (1.5-inch) Hotchkiss guns, along with four 356 mm (14-inch) torpedo tubes—two forward and two aft—above the waterline, and a provision for up to 150 naval mines. Her armor protection consisted of a curved deck 40 mm (1.6 inches) thick, but she lacked an armored conning tower, unlike some of her sister ships. Laid down at Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde in Lormont on 6 May 1887, Lalande was launched on 22 March 1889, moved to Rochefort for fitting out, and commissioned for sea trials on 1 November 1890. She was fully commissioned on 25 April 1891 and initially served with the Mediterranean Squadron as a scout for the main French fleet, participating in fleet maneuvers and exercises. Throughout her career, Lalande underwent several armament and structural modifications, including the conversion to quick-firing guns and reinforcement of her sponsons. She alternated between active deployment and reserve status, serving in various squadrons primarily in the Mediterranean. Decommissioned in 1912, Lalande was sold for scrap later that year, concluding her service as a notable example of late 19th-century French cruiser design.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.