History
France
NameSagittaire
Ordered18 October 1759 [1]
BuilderToulon [1]
Laid downJanuary 1759 [1]
Launched8 August 1761 [1]
In serviceMarch 1762 [1]
FateSold 1790
General characteristics
Tons burthen1000 tonnes
Length47.8 metres
Beam12.8 metres
Height5.9 metres
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament

Sagittaire was a 50-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.

Career

Sagittaire was designed by Coulomb, but as he had to leave for a mission to Malta, Chapelle supervised her launch.[1]

On 13 April 1778, Sagittaire departed Toulon in a squadron under Admiral d'Estaing, along with Languedoc, Tonnant, César, Zélé, Hector, Guerrier, Marseillais, Protecteur, Vaillant, Provence and Fantasque.[2]

She fought at the Battle of St. Lucia on 15 December 1778, where she was tasked to bombard the British battery on the Southern peninsula, along with the 32-gun Chimère.[3]

On 8 July, Sagittaire and Fantasque forced the frigate HMS Mermaid to beach herself at Cape Henhlopen.[4]

On 9 June 1779, Vengeur and Sagittaire, along with the frigates Chimère and Aimable, departed for Martinique under Brach as a distraction to cover Du Rumain's departure, who was sailing for his Capture of Saint Vincent with Lavely, Lys and four transports.[5]

On 14 July, under Albert de Rions, Sagittaire captured the Grenadines, along with Fantasque, under Suffren, and the frigates Lively and Fortunée.[6]

On 15 December 1778, she took part in the Battle of St. Lucia. Two days later, she helped Iphigénie capture HMS Ceres.[1]

On 23 September,[1] Sagittaire captured the 50-gun HMS Experiment, which carried 118,819 piastres.[7] In late 1779, she returned to Toulon, along with Experiment.[8]

Around 1781 she had six 6-pounder guns added on quarterdeck and forecastle, while replacing the 24-pounder guns on the lower gun deck with 18-pounders.[9] In March 1781, Sagittaire departed France, under Montluc de la Bourdonnaye, along with Experiment, under Médine, to join the French squadron off Rhode Island. In April 1782, De Grasse sent them to escort a convoy and put them out of danger from Hood's squadron.[10]

Fate

Sagittaire was loaned to the Compagnie de Chine to be used as a merchantman in 1783, until 1785. In 1788, she was hulked in Lorient, and in 1790 she was sold for use as a merchantman. [1]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Roche (2005), p. 392.
  2. ↑ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 139.
  3. ↑ Troude (1867), p. 19.
  4. ↑ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 154.
  5. ↑ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 197.
  6. ↑ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 211.
  7. ↑ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 223.
  8. ↑ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 227.
  9. ↑ Le Sagittaire on threedecks.org
  10. ↑ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 428.

References

  • Lacour-Gayet, Georges (1910). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion.
  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
  • Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé. OCLC 836362484.
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