▁Service ▁Al ma ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁at ▁Lor ient ▁on ▁ 1 ▁October ▁ 1 8 6 5 ▁and ▁launched ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁November ▁ 1 8 6 7 . ▁The ▁ship ▁began ▁her ▁sea ▁tri als ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁August ▁ 1 8 6 9 , ▁but ▁did ▁not ▁enter ▁service ▁until ▁the ▁following ▁year , ▁after ▁sail ing ▁to ▁Br est ▁to ▁have ▁she ath ing ▁added ▁to ▁protect ▁her ▁arm or . ▁She ▁was ▁commission ed ▁as ▁the ▁flags hip ▁of ▁the ▁China ▁Squadron ▁under ▁command ▁of ▁R ear ▁Admir al ▁Du pr é ▁and ▁the ▁ship ▁depart ed ▁Br est ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁June ▁ 1 8 7 0 . ▁She ▁ground ed ▁on ▁a ▁sho al ▁in ▁the ▁In land ▁Sea ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁July ▁and ▁lost ▁her ▁false ▁ke el . ▁After ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁the ▁Franco - Pr uss ian ▁War ▁Al ma ▁block aded ▁the ▁Pr uss ian ▁cor v ettes ▁ ▁and ▁ ▁in ▁the ▁Japanese ▁port ▁of ▁Y ok oh ama ▁from ▁mid - Dec ember ▁ 1 8 7 0 ▁until ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁war . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 4 ▁August ▁ 1 8 7 1 ▁Al ma ▁rode ▁out ▁a ▁ty ph oon ▁in ▁Y ok oh ama . ▁She ▁was ▁rel ieved ▁by ▁Bel lique use ▁on ▁ 1 ▁August ▁ 1 8 7 2 ▁and ▁reached ▁Toul on ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁January ▁ 1 8 7 3 . ▁The ▁ship ▁was ▁assigned