French Third Rate ship of the line 'Le Terrible' (1739)

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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
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Unrated Sloop
(1732)
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Le Terrible
Nominal Guns	78	NNF-1715
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	11.1736	BWAS-1714
Launched	19.12.1739	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	1740	NNF-1715
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Toulon - Provence	NNF-1715
Designed by	François CoulombFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1702-1749	BWAS-1714
Constructor	François CoulombFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1702-1749	NNF-1715
Category	Third Rate	NNF-1715
National Rate	Premier Rang	NNF-1715
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	NNF-1715
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	NNF-1715
Captured	14.10.1747	NNF-1715
Becomes	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Terrible' (1747) (74) 1747-1763 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck164' 3"Imperial Feet49.9884
Length of Keel133' 11"Imperial Feet40.5392
Breadth47' 3"Imperial Feet14.3365
Depth in Hold20' 7 ½"Imperial Feet6.1087
Burthen1,590 ²⁸⁄₉₄Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1715
Length of Gundeck156'French Feet (Pied du Roi)50.6717 (166′ 2″ Imperial)
Length of Keel131'French Feet (Pied du Roi)42.5497 (139′ 7″ Imperial)
Breadth44' 4"French Feet (Pied du Roi)14.3183 (46′ 11″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold21'French Feet (Pied du Roi)6.8479 (22′ 5″ Imperial)
Burthen1,500Ton

Armament

1740Broadside Weight = 846 French Livre (913.0032 lbs 414.117 kg)NNF-1715
Lower Gun Deck28 French 36-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck30 French 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle16 French 8-Pounder
Roundhouse4 French 4-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
17405566 Officers, 550 menNNF-1715

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1746Capitaine de VaisseauTRN31747 - 14.10.1747Capitaine de Vaisseauref:673

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1744Lieutenant-Général des Armées NavalesFWIKI

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1745Enseigne de Vaisseauref:631

Service History

DateEventSource
10.2.1743/44Battle of Toulon
3.8.1746Action of August 3 1746
10.8.1746Action of 10th Aug. 1746
18.10.1746Took the Ship of the Line in the Channel
14.10.17472nd Battle of Cape Finisterre

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

FWIKIVarious, Web Site

NNF-1715Alain Demerliac, Book

TRN3William Laird Clowes, Digital Book

ref:631 Web Site

ref:673 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"
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01	James Daschuk	British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866 British 6 Gun Unrated Steam Sloop
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