The Colbert-class ships were designed by Constructor Sabattier as improved versions of the ironclad Richelieu. As a central battery ironclad, Colbert had her armament concentrated amidships. Like most ironclads of her era she was equipped with a plough-shaped ram. Her crew numbered 774 officers and men. The metacentric height of the ship was low, a little above . The ship measured overall, with a beam of . Colbert had a maximum draft of and displaced .