This class of small torpedo vessels are true children of the Jeune école movement, which shunned heavy ships in favour of swarms of small torpedo vessels. France built literally hundreds of these boats before it began to dawn on the naval authorities that they were no good for anything except coastal defence. Still, they are a asset for defending the French coasts against the enemy forces, while the army is battling to stop the German invaders. They score with their great numbers and their shallow draught, which enables them to operate very close to the coastlines.