French Third Rate ship of the line 'L'Hercule' (1778)

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L'Hercule ➡ 1795 Hydre
Nominal Guns	74	W033
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Ordered	1778	E-WIKI
Keel Laid Down	1.4.1778	E-WIKI
Launched	5.10.1778	E-WIKI
How acquired	Purpose built	E-WIKI
Shipyard	Rochefort - Aunis	W033
Ship Class	Scipion Class (1778)	E-WIKI
Designed by	François-Guillaume Clairain des LauriersFrench Naval Sailor Designer Ship Builder Service 1738-1768	W033
Constructor	François-Guillaume Clairain des LauriersFrench Naval Sailor Designer Ship Builder Service 1738-1768	W033
Category	Third Rate	W033
National Rate	Premier Rang	W033
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	W033
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	W033
Razeed	6.1794	W033
Becomes	French Fourth Rate frigate 'L'Hydra' (1794) (50) 1794-1799 French 50 Gun 4th Rate Frigate

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentW033
Length of Gundeck170' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)55.216 (181′ 1″ Imperial)
Breadth44' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)14.2912 (46′ 10″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold22' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)7.1456 (23′ 5″ Imperial)
Burthen1,500Ton

Armament

10.1778Broadside Weight = 838 French Livre (904.3696 lbs 410.201 kg)W033
Lower Gun Deck28 French 36-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck30 French 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle16 French 8-Pounder

3 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1779 - 1780Capitaine de Vaisseauref:6731780 - 1781Capitaine de Vaisseauref:6311782 - 12.4.1782Capitaine de Vaisseau†BNF2

Service History

DateEventSource
17.4.1780Battle of Martinique
29.4.1781Battle of Fort Royal
5.9.1781Battle of the Chesapeake
25.1.1782Battle of Saint Kitts
9.4.1782Action off Dominique
12.4.1782Battle of the Saintes
5.1795Renamed HydreE-WIKI

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BNF2Onesime-Joachim Troude, Digital Book

E-WIKIVarious, Web Site

W033Ronald Deschenes, Web Site

ref:631 Web Site

ref:673 Web Site

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