French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Tourterelle' (1770)

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Britannia (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
(1762)
Devastation (6) 1841-1866
British 6 Gun
Unrated Steam Sloop
(1841)
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1790)
Pembroke (60) 1733-1749
British 60 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1733)
Mercury (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
(1745)
Seahorse (24) 1748-1784
British 24 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1748)
Charles PowlettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1728-1749
Namur (74) 1746-1749
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
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La Tourterelle
Nominal Guns	32	NNF-1715
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	12.1766	NNF-1715
Acquired	18.9.1770	NNF-1715
First Commissioned	11.1770	NNF-1715
Shipyard	Bordeaux - Guyenne	NNF-1715
Ship Class	Dédaigneuse Class (1766)	NNF-1715
Designed by	Leon-Michel GuignaceFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1751-1802	NNF-1715
Constructor	Leon-Michel GuignaceFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1751-1802	NNF-1715
Category	Fifth Rate	NNF-1715
National Rate	Quatrième Rang	NNF-1715
Ship Type	Frigate	NNF-1715
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	NNF-1715
Broken Up	1784	NNF-1715

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1715
Length of Gundeck132' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)42.8787 (140′ 8″ Imperial)
Length of Keel119' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)38.6512 (126′ 9″ Imperial)
Breadth34' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)11.0838 (36′ 4″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold17' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.5448 (18′ 2″ Imperial)
Burthen620Ton

Armament

11.1770Broadside Weight = 174 French Livre (187.7808 lbs 85.173 kg)NNF-1715
Upper Gun Deck26 French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle6 French 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
11.17702688 officers, 260 menNNF-1715

1 Ship Commander

DatesRankNameSource
1770Capitaine de Frégateref:673

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
2.1778 - 1779Lieutenant de Vaisseauref:673

3 Warrant Officers

DatesRankNameSource
7.5.1772 - 7.9.1772Enseigne de Vaisseauref:67316.5.1775 - 21.10.1775Enseigne de Vaisseauref:67316.5.1775 - 21.10.1775Enseigne de Vaisseauref:673

Service History

DateEventSource
1770

Campaign to Martinique .

ref:673
7.5.1772

From 7 may to 7 september 1772 : in a squadron of evolutions

ref:673
16.5.1775

From 16 may to 21 october 1775 : in a squadron of evolutions

ref:673
3.1783Condemned at BrestNNF-1715

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

NNF-1715Alain Demerliac, Book

ref:673 Web Site

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 8th of June 2026 17:20	F.F.	British First Rate ship of the line 'Britannia' (1762) (100) 1762-1825 British 100 Gun 1st Rate Ship of the Line 1812 Renamed "Princess Royal" 1812 Renamed "Saint George" 1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01	James Daschuk	British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866 British 6 Gun Unrated Steam Sloop
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56	AvM	British Merchant east indiaman 'Zephyr' (1790) (8) 1790-1798 British 8 Gun Merchant East Indiaman
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37	Jon Miller	British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Pembroke' (1733) (60) 1733-1749 British 60 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753 British 20 Gun 6th Rate Ship

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