French Fourth Rate flûte 'Le Portefaix' (1717)

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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)
Namur (74) 1746-1749
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
Shark (8) 1732-1755
British 8 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1732)
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Le Portefaix
Nominal Guns	44	NNF-1715
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	6.1716	NNF-1715
Acquired	18.6.1717	NNF-1715
First Commissioned	9.1718	NNF-1715
Shipyard	Toulon - Provence	NNF-1715
Ship Class	Portefaix Class (1717)	NNF-1715
Category	Fourth Rate	NNF-1715
National Rate	Troisième Rang	NNF-1715
Ship Type	Flûte	NNF-1715
Broken Up	1770	NNF-1715

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1715
Length of Gundeck125' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)40.6 (133′ 2″ Imperial)
Length of Keel110' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)35.728 (117′ 2″ Imperial)
Breadth29' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)9.4192 (30′ 10″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold14' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)4.5472 (14′ 11″ Imperial)
Displacementc1,000Ton
Burthen650Ton

Armament

9.1718Broadside Weight = 198 French Livre (213.6816 lbs 96.921 kg)NNF-1715
Lower Gun Deck22 French 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 French 6-Pounder

1723Broadside Weight = 154 French Livre (166.1968 lbs 75.383 kg)NNF-1715
Lower Gun Deck22 French 8-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 French 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
9.17181455 officers, 140 menNNF-1715

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1721Lieutenant de Vaisseau, ?? no yearref:6731722Lieutenant de Vaisseauref:673

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1722 - 1723Enseigne de Vaisseau, 2 campaignsref:673

1 Petty Officer

DatesRatingNameSource
1732Garde de la Marineref:673

Service History

DateEventSource
1732

Campaign to Martinique and Saint-Domingue .

ref:673
1736Refitted as a Unrated Hulk

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

NNF-1715Alain Demerliac, Book

ref:673 Web Site

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Keith Forstall on Thursday 3rd of April 2025 13:29

landed in Biloxi in June 4, 1721 carrying Chevalier Charles Frederick d'Arensbourg and three hundred German immigrants.

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Recent comments to other pages

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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