French Fourth Rate frigate 'L'Arc en Ciel' (1745)

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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
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3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
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L'Arc en Ciel
Nominal Guns	50	NNF-1715
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	1744	NNF-1715
Launched	1745	NNF-1715
First Commissioned	4.1746	NNF-1715
How acquired	Purpose built	NNF-1715
Shipyard	Bayonne - Aquitaine	NNF-1715
Constructor	Pierre MorineauFrench Designer Ship Builder	NNF-1715
Category	Fourth Rate	NNF-1715
National Rate	Troisième Rang	NNF-1715
Ship Type	Frigate (Frégate-Vaisseau de 1er Ordre)	ref:690
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	NNF-1715
Captured	12.7.1756	NNF-1715
Becomes	British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Arc-en-Ciel' (1756) (50) 1756-1759 British 50 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1715
Length of Gundeck135'French Feet (Pied du Roi)43.8519 (143′ 10″ Imperial)
Breadth37'French Feet (Pied du Roi)12.0447 (39′ 6″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold18' 9"French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.8769 (19′ 3″ Imperial)
Burthen800Ton

Armament

4.1746Broadside Weight = 320 French Livre (345.344 lbs 156.64 kg)NNF-1715
Lower Gun Deck24 French 18-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck26 French 8-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
4.17463655 officers, 360 menNNF-1715

Service History

DateEventSource
25.3.1747Action of March 25 1747
20.6.1747Action of June 20 1747
12.7.1756Taken by
12.7.1756Taken by
12.7.1756Taken by

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

NNF-1715Alain Demerliac, Book

ref:690Administration, 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
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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