Battle of Groix
Encyclopedia
The Second Battle of Groix was a naval engagement that took place on 23 June 1795 during the French Revolutionary War off the west coast of France
.
A British fleet of 14 ships of the line under Admiral Lord Bridport
in Royal George
, chased a French fleet of 12 of the line under Vice-Admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse
from the southwest toward the Île de Groix
, and in a battle lasting around 2hr 40min captured three ships before breaking off the action as the ships were coming too close to the shore. Lord Bridport was much criticized in the navy for his failure to win a more decisive victory.
, Colossus
, Irresistible
, Valiant
, and Russell
, to chase. At 6:45PM, he signalled the rest of the fleet to general chase.
At 7 p.m. the Lord Bridport made the signal to harass the enemy's rear, and at 7:25PM to engage as the ships came up, and to take stations for mutual support. By sunset, the British fleet had advanced considerably on the French fleet. At 10:30pm the ships were becalmed, but at 3:00AM on the 23rd, a light breeze had sprung up. Daylight showed the French fleet, except 3-4 ships clustered, with the closest being three miles from the British van.
By this time, the British fleet was much scattered, with all astern, surprisingly, of the Queen Charlotte
, of 100 guns, except Irresistible, which was within hailing distance. The nearest ships, besides the two above were Sans Pareil, Russell, Orion and Colossus. Flagship Royal George and two other ships were eight miles east of Queen Charlotte.
A few minutes before 6:00AM, the rearmost French ship, Alexandre
, opened fire on Irresistible with her stern chasers, and Irresistible opened fire at approximately 6AM, with Orion joining soon after. At 6:15AM, the ship ahead of Alexandre, Formidable, came under fire from the starboard guns of Queen Charlotte, and at 6:30, the Sans Pareil for a short time as well. She caught fire on the poop, and was soon badly damaged in the hull, masts, rigging, and sails by the well-directed broadsides of the two, particularly of the Queen Charlotte, and she dropped astern. Shortly afterwords, on her mizzenmast falling over the side, the Formidable bore up and struck her colours.
The Colossus, Russell, London
, and Queen
, on the part of the British, and the Peuple Souverain
, Mucius
, Redoutable
, Wattignies
, and Nestor
, on the part of the French, now participated more or less in the action. The remaining four French ships, the Zélé
, Fougueux
, Jean Bart, and Droits de l'Homme
, kept too far ahead to be engaged; and all the British ships, except the eight already named, were far astern.
The rigging and sails of Queen Charlotte showed the damages from the French rear ships and was becoming unmanageable. At 7:14, she was fired on by a ship on her larboard beam. Returning fire, she shortly compelled Alexandre to strike her colors. As Queen Charlotte attempted to close on Alexandre, she fired on Peuple Souverain and Tigre
with her larboard batteries also. Tigre was pursued by Sans Pareil, and when she came under fire from London and Queen, she struck her colors.
At 7:57, Royal George passed Queen Charlotte as she was repairing her rigging. Having repaired as best as she could, Queen Charlotte again set off in pursuit of the French. At 8:15, Lord Bridport signaled Colossus to discontinue the chase and did the same to the Sans Pareil at 8:20. Royal George then came under fire from Peuple Souverain, and Royal George bore up and fired her starboard broadside at her and her larboard broadside (not knowing that she had struck) into the starboard bow of the Tigre; who made the signal of submission a second time.
At 8:37, the Royal George wore round and the rest of the British fleet followed.
Britain (Alexander Hood)
Royal George
* 100 (Admiral Alexander Hood
, Captain William Domett
) 7 wounded
Queen Charlotte
* 100 (Captain Sir Andrew Snape Douglas
) 4 killed, 32 wounded
Queen
* 98 (Vice-Admiral Alan Gardner
, Captain William Bedford)
London
* 98 (Vice-Admiral John Colpoys
, Captain Edward Griffith
) 3 wounded
Prince of Wales
98 (Rear-Admiral Henry Harvey
, Captain John Bazely)
Prince
98 (Captain Charles Powell Hamilton
)
Barfleur
98 (Captain James Richard Dacres
)
Prince George
98 (Captain William Edge)
Sans Pareil* 80 (Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour
, Captain William Browell) 10 killed, 2 wounded
Valiant
74 (Captain Christopher Parker)
Orion
* 74 (Captain James Saumarez
) 6 killed, 18 wounded
Irresistible
* 74 (Captain Richard Grindall
) 3 killed, 11 wounded
Russell
* 74 (Captain Thomas Larcom) 3 killed, 10 wounded
Colossus
* 74 (Captain John Monkton) 5 killed, 30 wounded
* 46 (Captain Francis Cole)
Thalia 36 (Captain Lord Henry Paulet
)
Nymphe 36 (Captain George Murray
)
Aquilon 32 (Captain Robert Barlow
)
Astraea 32 (Captain Richard Lane)
24 (Captain Edward Codrington
)
Maegera 14 (fireship) (Captain Hon. Henry Blackwood
)
Incendiary 14 (fireship) (Captain John Draper)
Charon 44 (hospital ship
) Commander Walter Locke)
Argus (lugger
) 14
Dolly (lugger) 14
France (Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse)
Peuple Souverain
* 118
Alexandre
* 74 (François-Charles Guillemet) - Captured, 220 killed and wounded
Droits de l'Homme
74
Formidable* 74 (Charles-Alexandre Durand-Linois) - Captured, 320 killed and wounded
Fougueux
74
Jean Bart 74
Mucius
* 74
Nestor
* 74
Révolutionnaire
Redoutable
* 74
Tigre
* 74 (Jacques Bedout) - Captured, 130 killed and wounded
Wattignies
* 74
Zélé
74
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
A British fleet of 14 ships of the line under Admiral Lord Bridport
Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport
|-...
in Royal George
HMS Royal George (1788)
HMS Royal George was a 100-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched from Chatham Dockyard on 16 September 1788. She was designed by Sir Edward Hunt, and was the only other ship built to her draught...
, chased a French fleet of 12 of the line under Vice-Admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse
Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse
Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse was a French admiral.-Early career:Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse was born in Auch, in the heart of Gascony. The Villaret de Joyeuse family figured among the minor nobility from Languedoc...
from the southwest toward the Île de Groix
Groix
Groix is an island and a commune in the Morbihan department of the region of Brittany in north-western France.Groix lies a few kilometres of the coast off Lorient. Several ferries a day run from Lorient to Groix....
, and in a battle lasting around 2hr 40min captured three ships before breaking off the action as the ships were coming too close to the shore. Lord Bridport was much criticized in the navy for his failure to win a more decisive victory.
Battle
Lord Bridport's fleet first caught sight of the French fleet at 3:30AM on the 22nd. Upon finding that Vice-Admiral Joyeuse had no intention of offering battle, at 6:30AM he ordered his best sailing ships, the Sans Pareil, OrionHMS Orion (1787)
HMS Orion was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford on 1 June 1787 to the design of the , by William Bately...
, Colossus
HMS Colossus (1787)
HMS Colossus was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was launched at Gravesend on 4 April 1787 and lost on 10 December 1798.-Early history:...
, Irresistible
HMS Irresistible (1782)
HMS Irresistible was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 6 December 1782 at Harwich.She fought at the Battle of Groix in 1795, and at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797.Irresistible was broken up in 1806....
, Valiant
HMS Valiant (1759)
HMS Valiant was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, modelled on the captured French ship Invincible and launched on 10 August 1759 at Chatham Dockyard. Her construction, launch and fitting-out are the theme of the 'Wooden Walls' visitor experience at Chatham Historic Dockyard....
, and Russell
HMS Russell (1764)
HMS Russell was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 10 November 1764 at Deptford.In 1782, she was commanded by Captain James Saumarez at the Battle of the Saintes. In 1794 she was part of Admiral Howe's fleet at the Glorious First of June, and in the following year...
, to chase. At 6:45PM, he signalled the rest of the fleet to general chase.
At 7 p.m. the Lord Bridport made the signal to harass the enemy's rear, and at 7:25PM to engage as the ships came up, and to take stations for mutual support. By sunset, the British fleet had advanced considerably on the French fleet. At 10:30pm the ships were becalmed, but at 3:00AM on the 23rd, a light breeze had sprung up. Daylight showed the French fleet, except 3-4 ships clustered, with the closest being three miles from the British van.
By this time, the British fleet was much scattered, with all astern, surprisingly, of the Queen Charlotte
HMS Queen Charlotte (1790)
HMS Queen Charlotte was a 100-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 15 April 1790 at Chatham. She was built to the draught of designed by Sir Edward Hunt, though with a modified armament....
, of 100 guns, except Irresistible, which was within hailing distance. The nearest ships, besides the two above were Sans Pareil, Russell, Orion and Colossus. Flagship Royal George and two other ships were eight miles east of Queen Charlotte.
A few minutes before 6:00AM, the rearmost French ship, Alexandre
HMS Alexander (1778)
HMS Alexander was a Royal Navy 74-gun third-rate. This ship of the line was launched at Deptford on 8 October 1778. During her career she was captured by the French, and later recaptured by the British. She fought at the Nile in 1798, and was broken up in 1819...
, opened fire on Irresistible with her stern chasers, and Irresistible opened fire at approximately 6AM, with Orion joining soon after. At 6:15AM, the ship ahead of Alexandre, Formidable, came under fire from the starboard guns of Queen Charlotte, and at 6:30, the Sans Pareil for a short time as well. She caught fire on the poop, and was soon badly damaged in the hull, masts, rigging, and sails by the well-directed broadsides of the two, particularly of the Queen Charlotte, and she dropped astern. Shortly afterwords, on her mizzenmast falling over the side, the Formidable bore up and struck her colours.
The Colossus, Russell, London
HMS London (1766)
HMS London was a 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 24 May 1766 at Chatham Dockyard.London was originally launched as a 90-gun ship, as was standard for second rates at the time, but was later increased to 98-guns when she had eight 12 pounders installed on her...
, and Queen
HMS Queen (1769)
HMS Queen was a three-deck 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 18 September 1769 at Woolwich Dockyard. She was designed by William Bateley, and was the only ship built to her draught...
, on the part of the British, and the Peuple Souverain
French ship Océan (1790)
Océan was a 118-gun first-rate three-decker ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.She was ordered as États de Bourgogne and was launched at Brest in 1790...
, Mucius
French ship Orion (1787)
The Orion was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She took part in fighting on the coast of Italy. In 1793, she was renamed Mucius Scaevola, soon shortened to Mucius....
, Redoutable
French ship Redoutable (1791)
The Redoutable was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. She is known for her duel with HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar and for killing Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson during the action.- Early career :...
, Wattignies
French ship Wattignies (1794)
The Wattignies was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She took part in the Expédition d'Irlande in 1798 under captain Antoine René Thévenard.In July 1808, she was converted to a fluyt....
, and Nestor
French ship Nestor (1793)
The Nestor was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.In the night of the 30th December 1794, Nestor was dismasted due to the poor quality of her masts, and had to return to Brest for repairs. On her journey back, the Nestor met a British frigate under a false flag...
, on the part of the French, now participated more or less in the action. The remaining four French ships, the Zélé
French ship Zélé (1764)
The Zélé was a César class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.On 6 July 1779, she participated in the Battle of Grenada as a member of the Vanguard. In 1781 and 1782, she took part in the naval operations in the American Revolutionary War, under Admiral de Grasse. She fought at the Battle...
, Fougueux
French ship Fougueux
The Fougueux was a Téméraire class 74-gun French ship of the line built at Lorient from 1784 to 1785 by engineer Segondat.She took part in the Battle of Trafalgar, firing the first shot of the battle upon HMS Royal Sovereign. She later attempted to come to the aid of the Redoutable by engaging HMS...
, Jean Bart, and Droits de l'Homme
French ship Droits de l'Homme (1794)
The Droits de l'Homme was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy during the French Revolution.The Droits de l'Homme, was involved in the Action of 6 November 1794, chasing the British 74s Canada and Alexander...
, kept too far ahead to be engaged; and all the British ships, except the eight already named, were far astern.
The rigging and sails of Queen Charlotte showed the damages from the French rear ships and was becoming unmanageable. At 7:14, she was fired on by a ship on her larboard beam. Returning fire, she shortly compelled Alexandre to strike her colors. As Queen Charlotte attempted to close on Alexandre, she fired on Peuple Souverain and Tigre
French ship Tigre (1793)
Tigre was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.Her first captain was Pierre Jean Van Stabel. When Van Stabel was promoted, she became the flagship of his 6-ship squadron. She notably fought in 1793 to rescue the Sémillante, along with the Jean Bart.Under Jacques Bedout, she took part in...
with her larboard batteries also. Tigre was pursued by Sans Pareil, and when she came under fire from London and Queen, she struck her colors.
At 7:57, Royal George passed Queen Charlotte as she was repairing her rigging. Having repaired as best as she could, Queen Charlotte again set off in pursuit of the French. At 8:15, Lord Bridport signaled Colossus to discontinue the chase and did the same to the Sans Pareil at 8:20. Royal George then came under fire from Peuple Souverain, and Royal George bore up and fired her starboard broadside at her and her larboard broadside (not knowing that she had struck) into the starboard bow of the Tigre; who made the signal of submission a second time.
At 8:37, the Royal George wore round and the rest of the British fleet followed.
Post-script
1n 1847 the Admiralty issued the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "23rd June 1795" to all (any) surviving claimants from the action.Order of Battle
Only ships marked * were in actionBritain (Alexander Hood)
Royal George
HMS Royal George (1788)
HMS Royal George was a 100-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched from Chatham Dockyard on 16 September 1788. She was designed by Sir Edward Hunt, and was the only other ship built to her draught...
* 100 (Admiral Alexander Hood
Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport
|-...
, Captain William Domett
William Domett
Admiral Sir William Domett, GCB was a senior officer of the British Royal Navy who saw extensive service during the American Revolutionary, French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Throughout his career, Domett was under the patronage of Alexander Hood, later Lord Bridport...
) 7 wounded
Queen Charlotte
HMS Queen Charlotte (1790)
HMS Queen Charlotte was a 100-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 15 April 1790 at Chatham. She was built to the draught of designed by Sir Edward Hunt, though with a modified armament....
* 100 (Captain Sir Andrew Snape Douglas
Andrew Snape Douglas
Sir Andrew Snape Douglas was a distinguished Scottish sea captain in the Royal Navy during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars.-Family and early life:...
) 4 killed, 32 wounded
Queen
HMS Queen (1769)
HMS Queen was a three-deck 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 18 September 1769 at Woolwich Dockyard. She was designed by William Bateley, and was the only ship built to her draught...
* 98 (Vice-Admiral Alan Gardner
Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner
Admiral Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner was a British Royal Navy officer and peer of the realm. He became one of the Georgian era's most dashing frigate captains and, ultimately, a respected senior admiral.-Naval career:...
, Captain William Bedford)
London
HMS London (1766)
HMS London was a 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 24 May 1766 at Chatham Dockyard.London was originally launched as a 90-gun ship, as was standard for second rates at the time, but was later increased to 98-guns when she had eight 12 pounders installed on her...
* 98 (Vice-Admiral John Colpoys
John Colpoys
Admiral Sir John Colpoys, GCB was an officer of the British Royal Navy who served in three wars but is most notable for being one of the catalysts of the Spithead Mutiny in 1797 after ordering his marines to fire on a deputation of mutinous sailors...
, Captain Edward Griffith
Edward Griffith Colpoys
Vice Admiral Sir Edward Griffith Colpoys KCB was a senior officer of the British Royal Navy during the early nineteenth century...
) 3 wounded
Prince of Wales
HMS Prince of Wales (1794)
HMS Prince of Wales was a 98-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 28 June 1794 at Portsmouth.She was present at the Battle of Groix in 1795, and served as the flagship of Admiral Robert Calder at the Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1805. Prince of Wales was not present at...
98 (Rear-Admiral Henry Harvey
Henry Harvey
Admiral Sir Henry Harvey, KB was a long-serving officer of the British Royal Navy during the second half of the eighteenth century. Harvey participated in numerous naval operations and actions and especially distinguished himself at the Glorious First of June in command of...
, Captain John Bazely)
Prince
HMS Prince (1788)
HMS Prince was a 98-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 4 July 1788 at Woolwich. She fought at the Battle of Trafalgar.-Life:...
98 (Captain Charles Powell Hamilton
Charles Powell Hamilton
Charles Powell Hamilton was an officer of the Royal Navy, who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral....
)
Barfleur
HMS Barfleur (1768)
HMS Barfleur was a 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, designed by Sir Thomas Slade on the lines of the 100-gun ship Royal William, and launched at Chatham Dockyard on 30 July 1768, at a cost of £49,222. In about 1780, she had another eight guns added to her quarterdeck, making...
98 (Captain James Richard Dacres
James Richard Dacres (1749–1810)
James Richard Dacres was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars...
)
Prince George
HMS Prince George (1772)
HMS Prince George was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 31 August 1772 at Chatham. During her career, she was upgraded to a 98-gun ship, through the addition of eight 12 pdr guns to her quarterdeck....
98 (Captain William Edge)
Sans Pareil* 80 (Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour
Lord Hugh Seymour
Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour was a senior British Royal Navy officer of the late 18th century who was the fifth son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford and became known for being both a prominent society figure and a highly competent naval officer...
, Captain William Browell) 10 killed, 2 wounded
Valiant
HMS Valiant (1759)
HMS Valiant was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, modelled on the captured French ship Invincible and launched on 10 August 1759 at Chatham Dockyard. Her construction, launch and fitting-out are the theme of the 'Wooden Walls' visitor experience at Chatham Historic Dockyard....
74 (Captain Christopher Parker)
Orion
HMS Orion (1787)
HMS Orion was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford on 1 June 1787 to the design of the , by William Bately...
* 74 (Captain James Saumarez
James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez
Admiral James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez , GCB was an admiral of the British Royal Navy, notable for his victory at the Battle of Algeciras.-Early life:...
) 6 killed, 18 wounded
Irresistible
HMS Irresistible (1782)
HMS Irresistible was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 6 December 1782 at Harwich.She fought at the Battle of Groix in 1795, and at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797.Irresistible was broken up in 1806....
* 74 (Captain Richard Grindall
Richard Grindall
Vice Admiral Sir Richard Grindall KCB was an officer in the British Royal Navy whose distinguished career during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars was highlighted by his presence at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, when despite being cursed with...
) 3 killed, 11 wounded
Russell
HMS Russell (1764)
HMS Russell was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 10 November 1764 at Deptford.In 1782, she was commanded by Captain James Saumarez at the Battle of the Saintes. In 1794 she was part of Admiral Howe's fleet at the Glorious First of June, and in the following year...
* 74 (Captain Thomas Larcom) 3 killed, 10 wounded
Colossus
HMS Colossus (1787)
HMS Colossus was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was launched at Gravesend on 4 April 1787 and lost on 10 December 1798.-Early history:...
* 74 (Captain John Monkton) 5 killed, 30 wounded
* 46 (Captain Francis Cole)
Thalia 36 (Captain Lord Henry Paulet
Henry Paulet
Lord Henry "Harry" Paulet KCB was an officer in the Royal Navy who saw service in the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Born into the British nobility as a younger son of the Marquess of Winchester, he rose through the ranks and had gained his own command...
)
Nymphe 36 (Captain George Murray
George Murray (Royal Navy officer)
Vice-Admiral Sir George Murray KCB was an officer in the Royal Navy who saw service in a wide range of theatres and campaigns. His active naval career spanned the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars...
)
Aquilon 32 (Captain Robert Barlow
Robert Barlow (Royal Navy officer)
Admiral Sir Robert Barlow GCB was a senior and distinguished officer of the British Royal Navy who saw extensive service in the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He made his name in small ship actions, especially fighting French frigates, or which...
)
Astraea 32 (Captain Richard Lane)
24 (Captain Edward Codrington
Edward Codrington
Admiral Sir Edward Codrington GCB RN was a British admiral, hero of the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of Navarino.-Early life and career:...
)
Maegera 14 (fireship) (Captain Hon. Henry Blackwood
Henry Blackwood
Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood, 1st Baronet, GCH, KCB , whose memorial is in the St. John's Church, Killyleagh, was a British sailor....
)
Incendiary 14 (fireship) (Captain John Draper)
Charon 44 (hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
) Commander Walter Locke)
Argus (lugger
Lugger
A lugger is a class of boats, widely used as traditional fishing boats, particularly off the coasts of France, Scotland and England. It is a small sailing vessel with lugsails set on two or more masts and perhaps lug topsails.-Defining the rig:...
) 14
Dolly (lugger) 14
France (Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse)
Peuple Souverain
French ship Océan (1790)
Océan was a 118-gun first-rate three-decker ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.She was ordered as États de Bourgogne and was launched at Brest in 1790...
* 118
Alexandre
HMS Alexander (1778)
HMS Alexander was a Royal Navy 74-gun third-rate. This ship of the line was launched at Deptford on 8 October 1778. During her career she was captured by the French, and later recaptured by the British. She fought at the Nile in 1798, and was broken up in 1819...
* 74 (François-Charles Guillemet) - Captured, 220 killed and wounded
Droits de l'Homme
French ship Droits de l'Homme (1794)
The Droits de l'Homme was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy during the French Revolution.The Droits de l'Homme, was involved in the Action of 6 November 1794, chasing the British 74s Canada and Alexander...
74
Formidable* 74 (Charles-Alexandre Durand-Linois) - Captured, 320 killed and wounded
Fougueux
French ship Fougueux
The Fougueux was a Téméraire class 74-gun French ship of the line built at Lorient from 1784 to 1785 by engineer Segondat.She took part in the Battle of Trafalgar, firing the first shot of the battle upon HMS Royal Sovereign. She later attempted to come to the aid of the Redoutable by engaging HMS...
74
Jean Bart 74
Mucius
French ship Orion (1787)
The Orion was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She took part in fighting on the coast of Italy. In 1793, she was renamed Mucius Scaevola, soon shortened to Mucius....
* 74
Nestor
French ship Nestor (1793)
The Nestor was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.In the night of the 30th December 1794, Nestor was dismasted due to the poor quality of her masts, and had to return to Brest for repairs. On her journey back, the Nestor met a British frigate under a false flag...
* 74
Révolutionnaire
Redoutable
French ship Redoutable (1791)
The Redoutable was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. She is known for her duel with HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar and for killing Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson during the action.- Early career :...
* 74
Tigre
French ship Tigre (1793)
Tigre was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.Her first captain was Pierre Jean Van Stabel. When Van Stabel was promoted, she became the flagship of his 6-ship squadron. She notably fought in 1793 to rescue the Sémillante, along with the Jean Bart.Under Jacques Bedout, she took part in...
* 74 (Jacques Bedout) - Captured, 130 killed and wounded
Wattignies
French ship Wattignies (1794)
The Wattignies was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She took part in the Expédition d'Irlande in 1798 under captain Antoine René Thévenard.In July 1808, she was converted to a fluyt....
* 74
Zélé
French ship Zélé (1764)
The Zélé was a César class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.On 6 July 1779, she participated in the Battle of Grenada as a member of the Vanguard. In 1781 and 1782, she took part in the naval operations in the American Revolutionary War, under Admiral de Grasse. She fought at the Battle...
74