French First Rate ship of the line 'L'Invincible' (1780)

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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)
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Unrated Sloop
(1732)
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L'Invincible
Nominal Guns	100	NNF-1774
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	2.1779	NNF-1774
Launched	20.3.1780	NNF-1774
First Commissioned	5.1780	NNF-1774
How acquired	Purpose built	NNF-1774
Shipyard	Rochefort Dockyard - Rochefort	NNF-1774
Designed by	François-Guillaume Clairain des LauriersFrench Naval Sailor Designer Ship Builder Service 1738-1768	NNF-1774
Constructor	Jacques Denis Chevillard le CadetFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1777-1778	NNF-1774
Category	First Rate	NNF-1774
National Rate	Premier Rang	NNF-1774
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	NNF-1774
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	NNF-1774
Broken Up	12.1808	NNF-1774

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1774
Length of Gundeck184' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)59.7632 (196′ 0″ Imperial)
Length of Keel167' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)54.2416 (177′ 11″ Imperial)
Breadth50' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)16.24 (53′ 3″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold24' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)7.8358 (25′ 8″ Imperial)
Displacement4,670Ton
Burthen2,400Ton

Armament

3.1780Broadside Weight = 1104 French Livre (1191.4368 lbs 540.408 kg)
Lower Gun Deck30 French 36-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck32 French 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck30 French 12-Pounder

1781Broadside Weight = 1136 French Livre (1225.9712 lbs 556.072 kg)FWAS1786
Lower Gun Deck30 French 36-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck32 French 24-Pounder Carronade
Upper Gun Deck30 French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle8 French 8-Pounder

1785Broadside Weight = 1276 French Livre (1377.0592 lbs 624.602 kg)FWAS1626
Lower Gun Deck30 French 36-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck32 French 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck30 French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck6 French 36-Pounder Obusier
Quarterdeck10 French 8-Pounder
Forecastle6 French 8-Pounder

1794Broadside Weight = 1264 French Livre (1364.1088 lbs 618.728 kg)FWAS1626
Lower Gun Deck30 French 36-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck32 French 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck34 French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 French 36-Pounder Obusier
Quarterdeck10 French 8-Pounder
Forecastle6 French 8-Pounder

1795Broadside Weight = 1252 French Livre (1351.1584 lbs 612.854 kg)NNF-1774
Lower Gun Deck30 French 36-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck32 French 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck32 French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle4 French 36-Pounder Obusier
Quarterdeck/Forecastle16 French 8-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
5.17801,055 NNF-1774

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1780Capitaine de Vaisseauref:63125.4.1781 - 4.1783Capitaine de VaisseauE-WIKI

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
30.5.1781 - 4.1783Lieutenant-GénéralE-WIKI

Service History

DateEventSource
1781Rerated as a 100 gunnerFWAS1786
12.12.17812nd Battle of Ushant
20.10.1782Battle of Cape Spartel
1784Rerated as a 110 gunnerFWAS1786
1785Rerated as a 102 gunnerFWAS1626
1794

Rebuilt and coppered at Brest

FWAS1786
1794Rerated as a 104 gunnerFWAS1626
3.1807DisarmedNNF-1774
6.1.1808

Condemned at Brest

NNF-1774

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

E-WIKIVarious, Web Site

FWAS1626Stephen S. Roberts, Rif Winfield, Book

FWAS1786Stephen S. Roberts, Rif Winfield, Book

NNF-1774Alain Demerliac, Book

ref:631 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"
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