French ship Foudroyant (1799)

The Foudroyant ("Lightning") was a Tonnant-class 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.

History
French Navy EnsignFrance
NameFoudroyant
Namesake
Laid downNovember 1793
Launched18 May 1799
CompletedAugust 1800
Commissioned28 March 1801
RenamedDix-huit fructidor in December 1797; restored to Foudroyant in February 1800
FateStruck 26 October 1833; broken up in 1834
General characteristics
Class and typeTonnant-class ship of the line
Displacement3,868 tonnes
Tons burthen2,034 tonnes
Length59.28 m (194 ft 6 in)
Beam15.27 m (50 ft 1 in)
Draught7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
Depth of hold7.64 m (25 ft 1 in)
PropulsionSail
Complement866 in wartime; 626 in peacetime
Armament
ArmourTimber

She was started in Rochefort from 1793, and renamed to Dix-huit fructidor in December 1797 in honour of the Jacobin Coup of 18 Fructidor, as she was still on the stocks, but reverted to Foudroyant in February 1800 before completion, after the Directory fell.

She took part in cruises in the Caribbean under Villaret de Joyeuse.

On 15 September 1806, while under jury rig some 15 miles (24 km) off Havana, she encountered HMS Anson, under Captain Charles Lydiard. Anson, mistakenly believing Foudroyant distressed, attacked, and was driven off.

She took part in the Battle of the Basque Roads, in which she was badly damaged but was later repaired.

She was eventually broken up in 1834.

References

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  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours 1 1671–1870. p. 211. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
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