French Third Rate ship of the line 'Le Formidable' (1751)

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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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British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
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Le Formidable
Nominal Guns	80	W033
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Ordered	25.12.1748	W033
Keel Laid Down	1749	W033
Named	13.1.1749	W033
Launched	6.1751	W033
First Commissioned	12.1752	W033
How acquired	Purpose built	W033
Shipyard	Brest Dockyard - Brest	W033
Designed by	Jacques-Luc CoulombFrench Naval Sailor Designer Ship Builder Service 1728-1768	W033
Constructor	Jacques-Luc CoulombFrench Naval Sailor Designer Ship Builder Service 1728-1768	W033
Category	Third Rate	W033
National Rate	Premier Rang	W033
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	W033
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	W033
Captured	20.11.1759	W033
Becomes	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Formidable' (1759) (80) 1759-1768 British 80 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck188' 0"Imperial Feet57.3024
Length of Keel155' 4 ½"Imperial Feet47.2567
Breadth49' 2 ¾"Imperial Feet14.9543
Depth in Hold21' 4 ½Imperial Feet6.4135
Burthen2,002 ⁸⁸⁄₉₄Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentW033
Length of Gundeck177' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)57.4917 (188′ 7″ Imperial)
Breadth44' 10"French Feet (Pied du Roi)14.2912 (46′ 10″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold21' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)6.9832 (22′ 10″ Imperial)
Burthen1,800Ton
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1715
Length of Gundeck178' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)57.8144 (189′ 8″ Imperial)
Length of Keel168' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)54.5688 (179′ 0″ Imperial)
Breadth44' 10"French Feet (Pied du Roi)14.2912 (46′ 10″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold21' 10"French Feet (Pied du Roi)6.8208 (22′ 4″ Imperial)
Burthen1,800Ton

Armament

1752Broadside Weight = 900 French Livre (971.28 lbs 440.55 kg)W033
Lower Gun Deck30 French 36-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck32 French 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle18 French 8-Pounder

12.1752Broadside Weight = 900 French Livre (971.28 lbs 440.55 kg)FWAS1626
Lower Gun Deck30 French 36-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck32 French 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck12 French 8-Pounder
Forecastle6 French 8-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
12.175281414 officers, 800 menNNF-1715

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
30.4.1758 - 15.6.1758Chef d'Escadreref:17551759 - 20.11.1759Capitaine de Vaisseau† Discharged DeadFWIKI

2 Flag Officers

DatesRankNameSource
1755Chef d'Escadreref:6731759 - 20.11.1759Chef d'Escadre†FWIKI

2 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
1757 - 1758Lieutenant de Vaisseauref:6731759 - 20.11.1759Lieutenant de Vaisseau, rank ??ref:673

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1757Enseigne de Vaisseauref:673

1 Crewman

DatesRatingNameSource
1758 - 1759Mousse , wounded the 20/11/1759 .ref:631

Service History

DateEventSource
8.1757Louisbourg Expedition
20.11.1759Battle of Quiberon Bay

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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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