French Fourth Rate ship of the line 'L'Hercule' (1705)

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L'Hercule
Nominal Guns	56	NNF-1715
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	3.1705	NNF-1715
Launched	22.6.1705	NNF-1715
First Commissioned	9.1705	NNF-1715
How acquired	Purpose built	NNF-1715
Shipyard	Lorient - Brittany	NNF-1715
Constructor	DesjumeauxFrench Ship Builder	NNF-1715
Category	Fourth Rate	NNF-1715
National Rate	Second Rang	NNF-1715
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	NNF-1715
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	NNF-1715
Broken Up	1746	NNF-1715

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1715
Length of Gundeck137' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)44.502 (146′ 0″ Imperial)
Breadth37' 3"French Feet (Pied du Roi)12.0292 (39′ 5″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold16'French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.2239 (17′ 1″ Imperial)
Burthen900Ton

Armament

9.1705Broadside Weight = 338 French Livre (364.7696 lbs 165.451 kg)NNF-1661
Lower Gun Deck24 French 18-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck26 French 8-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle6 French 6-Pounder

1708Broadside Weight = 288 French Livre (310.8096 lbs 140.976 kg)NNF-1715
Lower Gun Deck24 French 24-Pounder

1708Broadside Weight = 186 French Livre (200.7312 lbs 91.047 kg)NNF-1661
Upper Gun Deck26 French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle10 French 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
9.17053577 officers, 350 crewNNF-1715

3 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
2.1711 - 3.1712Lieutenant de VaisseauFWIKI1719 - 1720Chef d'Escadreref:6871724Capitaine de Vaisseauref:673

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1711Lieutenant de Vaisseauref:673

1 Petty Officer

DatesRatingNameSource
1719Garde de la Marineref:673

Service History

DateEventSource
1708Refitted as a 60 gun Third Rate Ship of the Line
1711Began repairs at Martinique - France - Windward Islands NNF-1715
1712Completed repairs at Martinique - France - Windward Islands NNF-1715
1741Refitted as a Unrated Hulk

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

FWIKIVarious, Web Site

NNF-1661Alain Demerliac, Book

NNF-1715Alain Demerliac, Book

ref:673 Web Site

ref:687Philippe de Vilette-Mursay, Book

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