French ship Indivisible

Indivisible was a Tonnant-class 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.

Capture of HMS Swiftsure by Indivisible and Dix-Août
History
France
NameIndivisible
BuilderBrest
Laid downMay 1793
Launched8 July 1799
CompletedOctober 1799
RenamedAlexandre on 5 February 1803
CapturedOn 6 February 1806 by the Royal Navy
United Kingdom
NameAlexandre
AcquiredCaptured on 6 February 1806
ReclassifiedPowder hulk in 1808
FateSold for breaking up on 16 May 1822
General characteristics
Class and type80-gun Tonnant-class ship of the line
Tons burthen2,231 4994 bm
Length
  • 195 ft 2 in (59.49 m) (gundeck)
  • 158 ft 8 in (48.36 m) (keel)
Beam51 ft 4.5 in (15.659 m)
Depth of hold23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement590
Armament

Career

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Originally named the Indivisible in 1793, she was commissioned in Toulon on 23 September 1800. On 18 March 1800, Captain Louis-Marie Le Gouardun took command, which he retained until 9 March 1801.[1]

On 5 February 1803, she was renamed Alexandre, and recommissioned in Brest under Captain Leveyer.

In December, under Captain Garreau, she was part of Corentin Urbain Leissègues's squadron bound for San Domingo. She took part in the subsequent Battle of San Domingo, where she was badly damaged by the fire of HMS Superb, which left her adrift, her rigging shot off and her rudder destroyed. She was taken by HMS Spencer.

From 1808, the Royal Navy used her as a gunpowder hulk in Plymouth. Indivisible was eventually broken up in 1822.

Citations

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  1. ^ Quintin, p.221

References

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  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours, 1671–1870. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
  • Quintin, Danielle; Quintin, Bernard (2003). Dictionnaire des capitaines de Vaisseau de Napoléon (in French). S.P.M. ISBN 2-901952-42-9. OCLC 165892922.
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.