French ship Invincible (1780)

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

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Invincible.
Detail of Royal Louis sistership at Musee national de la Marine.
History
France
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 and became first in a line of threedeckers like Royal Louis, Terrible, etc.. She was built within 13 month and completed in Mai 1780. This powerful three-deck vessel was destined to be a flagship by carrying a squadron commander; his extra deck allowed him to have two large rooms (in addition to the council chamber and the captain's room). Its advantages were to have more powerful artillery than a two-decker (typically 74 guns), a thicker wall (increasing its protection) and a higher hull (a benefit in close combat). On the other hand, such a ship had less stability, less speed and more drift.

American War of Independence

In 1781 stationed at the Antilles, it picked a British concoy. 1782 ordered to Gibraltar, in Lamotte-Picquet's squadron. (Comte de la Motte was her captain 1781/04-1783/04). 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 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

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References
  • Dictionnaire de la flotte de guerre française, Jean-Michel Roche
  • Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1774 à 1792"", Alain Demerliac
  • French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861"", Rif Winfiled & Stephen S. Roberts
  • Sister ship Royal Louis at Musee national de la Marine
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