French ship Invincible (1780)
Invincible was a first-rate ship of the line of the French Royal Navy.
 Detail of Royal Louis sistership at Musee national de la Marine. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Invincible |
| Builder | Rochefort |
| Laid down | 20 February 1779 |
| Launched | 20 March 1780 |
| Commissioned | May 1780 |
| Fate | Broken up in 1806 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | First-rate ship of the line |
| Type | Invincible class |
| Displacement | 4,670 ton |
| Tons burthen | 2400 tonnes |
| Length | 59.8 m (196 ft) |
| Beam | 16.2 m (53 ft) |
| Height | 8.3 m (27 ft) |
| Depth of hold | 7.83m |
| Decks | 3 |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Crew | 1,055 officers and men in 1780 |
| Armament | 110 guns |
Built on plans by Francois Guillaume Clairin Deslauriers at Rochefort as part of the French naval mobilisation for the American War of Independence, she was a sister-ship of Royal Louis.
She was built within 13 month and completed in Mai 1780.
American War of Independence
In 1781, stationed in the Antilles, she picked a British convoy. In 1782 she was ordered to Gibraltar, in Lamotte-Picquet's squadron. (Comte de la Motte was her captain April 1781–April 1783). She took part in the Battle of Cape Spartel, where she attacked the rear of the British squadron.
She was refitted several time (1781, 1784 and 1795) until her career came to an end in 1807 when she was disarmed and finally broken up in 1808 at Brest. Her replacement was the Commerce de Marseille of 118 guns.
Vue du port de Brest by Jean-François Hue
Invicible, details of Vue du port de Brest by Jean-François Hue
Armament
Armament 1780
Broadside Weight = 1104 French Livre (1191.4368 lbs 540.408 kg)
Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck: 32x French 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck: 30x French 12-Pounder
Armament 1781
Broadside Weight = 1136 French Livre (1225.9712 lbs 556.072 kg)
Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck: 32x French 24-pound Carronade
Upper Gun Deck: 30x French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle: 8x French 8-Pounder
Armament 1784
Broadside Weight = 1168 French Livre (1260.5056 lbs 571.736 kg)
Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck:32x French 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck:30x French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle:16x French 8-Pounder
Armament 1795
Broadside Weight = 1252 French Livre (1351.1584 lbs 612.854 kg)
Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck: 32x French 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck:32x French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle: 4x French 36-Pounder Obusier
Quarterdeck/Forecastle1: 6x French 8-Pounder
References
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours 1 1671–1870. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
- Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1774 à 1792, Alain Demerliac
- French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861, Rif Winfiled & Stephen S. Roberts