In 1862, Normandie became the first ironclad to cross the Atlantic, on her way to support the French intervention in Mexico. It also carried Napoleon Bonaparte's remains from St. Helena to his final resting place in Les Invalides. Normandie's original battery proved to be ineffective against armour, and was replaced in 1868 with breech loaders. Her poor construction, a result of using poor quality timbers, saw her stricken in 1871, after less than 10 years' service.