Le Royal Louis ➡ 1692 Royal Louis Vieux

Posted by F.F. on Sunday 2nd of February 2025 17:00

Wikipedia:
«On his visit to Toulon in 1683, the English naval engineer Edmund Dummer described the Royal Louis as "a great ship and glorious in her first carving, no doubt; but to my judgment not of good proportion, nor good workmanship, her figure under water I know not, nor is that above to be admired".»

Rodolphe Gédéon, the Dutch shipwright who built her, was regarded as one of the best ones, if not the best one.

In the abridged lists of the French Navy (états abrégés), le Royal-Louis was noted once has being a bit too high («un peu haut») out of the water, but always as a splendid ship («magnifique»), with very well made sides and bottom («fonds et côté très beaux»), sailing very well («navigue très bien»), and a fine sailer («fin voilier»).

Posted by Christian Pichmann on Sunday 4th of August 2019 15:28

Hello, regarding to Windfields & Roberstsons "French Warships in the Age of Sail 1626 - 1786" the ROYAL LOUIS was firstly armed with 48 pounder guns in the LowerDEck - what were removed when their worth in battle was prooven as not too good - as the handling characteristics and rate of fire ware too bad. So they were given ashore to the coastal artillery and usual 36pounder came on board. But still with this reduced firepower here motto was still right: "I am unmatched over the waves and my king is it in the world."