The Bertin was an East Indiaman used for long–distance trading during the eighteenth century. She was later converted into a ship of the line, taking advantage of her design, already suitable for a warship. When, in 1770, she was commissioned into the French Marine Royale, under King Louis XVI, her armament was doubled – Bertin became a fourth rate with 56...
Originally named “Duc de Duras”, this ship was loaned by the French Crown to the newborn American Continental Navy, to be placed under the command of John Paul Jones; she was renamed “Bonhomme Richard”, in honor of Benjamin Franklin. During her cruise against the British, in the Battle of Flamborough Head, the Bonhomme Richard met her destiny fighting...
Bucentaure was the lead ship of her class and was the flagship of Vice–Admiral Latouche Tréville, died on board on 18 August 1804. Vice–Admiral Villeneuve hoisted his flag on 6 November 1804 and on board he hosted the Franco–Spanish war council at Cadiz. At the Battle of Trafalgar she was commanded by Capt. Magendie and defeated by Admiral Nelson's HMS...
The Diana was one of the six Mahonesas-class frigates built at the Mahón shipyard in Minorca, based on French and British construction techniques and improving upon them – She was the fastest ship of her class. It participated in the evacuation of the Spanish forces at the Siege of Roses during the French Revolutionary Wars. On 13 October 1796, she was...
The Duc de Duras was a merchant ship which regularly sailed half way around the world on behalf of the French East India Company. Her design allowed her to be quickly transformed into a warship in case of necessity to support the navy. When the French East India Company dissolved, all its ships were “adopted” by the French Navy, including the Duc the...
The Inflexible–class ships were designed for the Royal Navy by Sir Thomas Slade, based on his earlier design for the Albion class. These ships were armed with 26 24–Pounder guns in the gundeck, 26 18–Pounder guns in the upperdeck, 10 4–Pounder guns in the quarterdeck, and 2 9–Pounder guns in the forecastle. HMS Africa participated to the last battle of the...
The Ardent class ships were designed for the Royal Navy by Sir Thomas Slade using as a reference the French ship Fougueux. These ships were armed with 26 24–Pounder guns in the lower deck, 26 18–Pounder guns in the upperdeck, 10 9–Pounder guns in the quarterdeck, 2 9–Pounder guns in the forecastle. HMS Agamemnon sailed and fought in the American...
The HMS Hamadryad, before her capture, was named “Ninfa” — a 36–gun Spanish frigate built at Mahon, on the island of Minorca. After her capture, Ninfa was taken to Gibraltar where she was commissioned under Thomas Elphinstone as HMS Hamadryad. After capturing two privateers, her career as an English ship was a short one, as she sank whilst trying to...
The Tonnant class ship HMS Malta previously served with the French Navy as the “Guillaume Tell”, until she was captured in the Mediterranean Sea by the British Navy during the blockade of Malta. As Guillaume Tell, she took part in the Battle of the Nile, becoming one of only two French ships to escape the destruction of the fleet, and took refuge at Malta...
The Intrepid–class ships were designed for the Royal Navy by Sir John Williams. These ships were armed with 26 24–Pounder guns in the gundeck, 26 18–Pounder guns in the upperdeck, 10 4–Pounder guns in the quarterdeck, and 2 9–Pounder guns in the forecastle. HMS Polyphemus was laid down at Sheerness in 1782 and commissioned in 1799 under the command of...
The Santa Monica – aka Mahonesa – was the first of a series of 6 frigates of 34 guns, built in the Minorcan port of Mahón, and had as her first service the transport of troops of Mallorca. This ship performed various services along the Mediterranean sea, and took part to French Revolutionary Wars until she was captured by the HMS Terpsichore on October 13...
The Bucentaure class ship Neptune was launched at the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars. After missions on the West Indies, she was used against the British in Mediterranean Sea. During the Battle of Trafalgar she was engaged by Nelson himself, and she dueled with several British ships, surviving the battle. She later became part of the Spanish fleet, named...