Hello from France

[nleulliot]

I'm interested in colonial gunboats, especially of the Mahdist War variety and thought I'd join up to tap your collective knowledge. ;-)

[Red_Hamish]

I'm interested in colonial gunboats, especially of the Mahdist War variety and thought I'd join up to tap your collective knowledge. ;-)

Hi welcometo the Paddleducks forum,sorry to say  that I've no idea on Mahdist War,please tell  us more so there is some chance we do know about it but not as  is commonly named.

cheers

Jim

[Walter Snowdon]

A great welcome to you. I too have an interest  in "SMALL WARS" gunboats but I dont have A great deal of information on the Nile Campaign (Red Hamish, you must have seen the FOUR FEATHERS and GORDON OF KHARTOUM, well that was the Mahdist wars!).There were countless small gun boats built in Britain and France but very little exists in the way of plans. Some years ago MODEL REDUIT DE BATEAU published an article and plan of a small French sternwheeler gunboat for colonial service  which I always wanted to build. Alas I no longer have that article. If you or any of your contacts have a copy, how about posting it on this site or mailing me a copy?. Five years ago I was in the Maritime Museum in Paris and bought an excellent book on French gunboats in service in China. This book was profusely illustrated, even down to photographs of "ladies" visited by the crews! Even though the text was in French I was able to understand the plans and photographs.
 Once again, welcome and if we have any information you can be certain it will be posted on paddleducks for you. Regards, walter.

[nleulliot]

Hi welcometo the Paddleducks forum,sorry to say  that I've no idea on Mahdist War,please tell  us more so there is some chance we do know about it but not as  is commonly named.

"Mahdist War" is a rather obscure name for the colonial conflict in the Sudan between 1884 and 1898 when Egypt and the UK clashed against the Sudanese. Paddlewheel boats (some of them militarised Thomas Cook transports) played quite an important role in the two campaigns which followed the course of the Nile river. The conflict is best known in film through the films mentioned by Walter Snowdon.

Walter, I don't have that issue but I think the plan is still available :
http://tinyurl.com/5bexkr

Speaking of plans there is a good online ressource on the website of the French Navy's historical branch. There is at least one river gunboat (ARQUEBUSE 1884) but no paddle duck...
http://tinyurl.com/yfaevh