French ship Invincible (1780)

Invincible was a first-rate ship of the line of the French Royal Navy.

Sister ship Royal Louis at Musee national de la Marine
Detail of Royal Louis sistership at Musee national de la Marine.
History
French Navy Ensign French Navy EnsignFrench Navy EnsignFrance
NameInvincible
BuilderRochefort
Laid down20 February 1779
Launched20 March 1780
CommissionedMay 1780
FateBroken up in 1806
General characteristics
Class and typeFirst-rate ship of the line
TypeInvincible class
Displacement4,670 ton
Tons burthen2400 tonnes
Length59.8 m (196 ft)
Beam16.2 m (53 ft)
Height8.3 m (27 ft)
Depth of hold7.83m
Decks3
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Crew1,055 officers and men in 1780
Armament110 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 May 1780.

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.

Armament

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Armament 1780

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  • 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
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