French Warships in the Age of Sail, 1626–1786 : Design, Construction, Careers and Fates

The origins of a permanent French sailing navy can be traced to the work of Cardinal Richelieu in the 1620s, but this naval force declined rapidly in the 1650s and a virtually new Marine Royale had to be re-created by Colbert from 1661. Thereafter, Louis XIV"s navy grew rapidly to become the largest and most powerful in the world, at the same time establishing a reputation for the quality of its ship design that lasted until the end of sail. The eighteenth century was to see defeat and decline, revival and victory, but by 1786 the French Navy had emerged from its most successful naval war having frequently outfought or outmanoeuvred the British Navy in battle, and in the process making a major contribution to American independence.This book is the first comprehensive listing of these ships in English, and follows the pattern set by its companion volume on the 1786–1861 period in providing an impressive depth of information. It is organised by Rate, classification and class, with significant technical and building data, followed by highlights of the careers of each ship in every class. Thus for the first time it is possible to form a clear picture of the overall development of French warships throughout the whole of the sailing era.Certain to become the standard English-language reference work, its publication is of the utmost importance to every naval historian and general reader interested in the navies of the sailing era. Cover Book Title Copyright Contents Preface Acknowledgments Structure and Organisation of the Book French Naval Technology and Organisation from Colbert to Castries The Small Three-decked Ship of the Line Mixed Calibres on Gun Decks Changes in Ship Rankings, 1669–1716 Appearance and Design Flags Ordnance Manning Levels Administration of the Navy Dockyards and Infrastructure Use of Navy ships for Privateering (Armements Mixtes) Historical Overview Chronology French Naval Operations from 1626 to 1786 Sources and Bibliography Glossary and Abbreviations Preamble: The Legacy of Richelieu and Mazarin – Ships of the French Navy from 1626 to 1661 (A) The French fleet in September 1661. Chapter 1 The First Rank (Vaisseaux du premier rang) with 80 or more guns after 1715 (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Three-decked vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 (E) 80-gun two-decked vessels (Vaisseaux de 80) acquired from 1740 Chapter 2 The Second Rank (Vaisseaux du second rang) with 68 to 78 guns after 1715 (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) 74-gun two-decked vessels (Vaisseaux de 74) acquired from 1 September 1715 Chapter 3 The Third Rank (Vaisseaux du troisième rang) with 56 to 66 guns after 1715 (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) 24pdr- and 36pdr-armed vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 (E) 18pdr-armed vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Chapter 4 The Fourth Rank (Vaisseaux du quatrième rang) with 40 to 54 guns after 1715, sometimes described as Frigates of the 1st Order (Frégates du 1er ordre), and 12pdr-armed and larger frigates after 1747 (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 (E) 12pdr-armed frigates (Frégates de 12) acquired from 1747 (F) 12pdr-armed vessels (two-deckers) acquired in 1770 (G) 18pdr-armed frigates (Frégates de 18) acquired from 1772 Chapter 5 The Fifth Rank (Vaisseaux du cinquième rang) sometimes described as Frigates of the 2nd Order (Frégates du 2e ordre), and 8pdr-armed frigates after 1740 (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 (E) 8pdr-armed frigates (Frégates de 8) acquired from 1740 Chapter 6 Light Frigates (Frégates légères) (A) Frigates in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Frigates acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Frigates acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) 6pdr-armed frégates légères acquired from 1 September 1715 (E) 8pdr- and 12pdr-armed frégates légères acquired from 1 September 1715 Chapter 7 Bomb Vessels and other Coastal Warfare Craft (Galiotes à mortiers, Galiotes à bombes, Prames, Chaloupes-canonnières, etc) Bomb Vessels (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Prams (Prames) (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Floating Batteries (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Gunboats (Chaloupes-canonnières) and mortar boats (Chaloupes-carcassières) (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Chapter 8 Fireships (Brûlots) (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Chapter 9 Storeships and Cargo Ships (Flûtes and Gabarres) Storeships (Flûtes) (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Cargo Ships (Gabarres) (A) Vessels acquired from 1714 Chapter 10 Corvettes and Barques Longues (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Corvettes with 4pdr guns acquired from December 1715 (E) Corvettes with 6pdr (or heavier) guns acquired from 1763 Chapter 11 Minor Warships – Ponant types (Barques, Brigantines, Snows, Cutters, Luggers, Schooners, Brigs, etc) (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Chapter 12 Minor Warships – Levant types (Barques, Brigantines, Tartanes, Feluccas, Xebecs, etc) (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Chapter 13 Minor Support Vessels Cargo Vessels (A) Vessels in service as at 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Supply and Patrol Vessels (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Yachts, Traversiers, and Paquebots (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Addendum The Galley Corps (corps des galères) (A) Vessels acquired before 9 March 1661 (B) Vessels acquired from 9 March 1661 (C) Vessels acquired from 15 April 1689 (D) Vessels acquired from 1 September 1715 Appendix A. Strength of the French Navy, 1660–1786 Appendix B. Financial Expenditures on the French Navy, 1662–1786 Appendix C: French Warship Ranks and Changes in Ranks, 1669–1789 Appendix D. Standard Armaments of French Ships, 1674 and 1689 Appendix E. French Monarchs, Political and Naval Leaders, 1626–1786 Appendix F. Selected French Master Shipwrights and Master Sculptors, 1661–1786 Appendix G. Action stations of the 80-gun ship of the line Foudroyant of 1750 Appendix H. Colbert’s mass ship renamings of 24 June 1671. Appendix J. Lists of the French Fleet as at 1672 – 1682 – 1692 – 1702 – 1712 – 1723 – 1734 – 1743 – 1752 – 1765 – 1772 and 1786 Index to Named Vessels Back Cover "The origins of a permanent French sailing navy can be traced to the work of Cardinal Richelieu in the 1620s, but this naval force declined rapidly in the 1650s and a virtually new Marine Royale had to be re-created by Colbert from 1661. Thereafter, Louis XIV"s navy grew rapidly to become the largest and most powerful in the world, at the same time establishing a reputation for the quality of its ship design that lasted until the end of sail. The eighteenth century was to see defeat and decline, revival and victory, but by 1786 the French Navy had emerged from its most successful naval war having frequently outfought or outmanoeuvred the British Navy in battle, and in the process making a major contribution to American independence. This book is the first comprehensive listing of these ships in English, and follows the pattern set by its companion volume on the 1786 - 1861 period in providing an impressive depth of information. It is organised by Rate, classification and class, with significant technical and building data, followed by highlights of the careers of each ship in every class. Thus for the first time it is possible to form a clear picture of the overall development of French warships throughout the whole of the sailing era. Certain to become the standard English-language reference work, its publication is of the utmost importance to every naval historian and general reader interested in the navies of the sailing era."--Publisher's description "The origins of a permanent French sailing navy can be traced to the work of Cardinal Richelieu in the 1620s, but this naval force declined rapidly in the 1650s and a virtually new Marine Royale had to be re-created by Colbert from 1661. Thereafter, Louis XIV"s navy grew rapidly to become the largest and most powerful in the world, at the same time establishing a reputation for the quality of its ship design that lasted until the end of sail. The eighteenth century was to see defeat and decline, revival and victory, but by 1786 the French Navy had emerged from its most successful naval war having frequently outfought or outmanoeuvred the British Navy in battle, and in the process making a major contribution to American independence. This book is the first comprehensive listing of these ships in English, and follows the pattern set by its companion volume on the 1786 - 1861 period in providing an impressive depth of information. It is organised by Rate, classification and class, with significant technical and building data, followed by highlights of the careers of each ship in every class. Thus for the first time it is possible to form a clear picture of the overall development of French warships throughout the whole of the sailing era. Certain to become the standard English-language reference work, its publication is of the utmost importance to every naval historian and general reader interested in the navies of the sailing era."--Résumé de l'éditeur "The first comprehensive listing of these ships in English. . . . Profusely illustrated [and] impressively informative." — Midwest Book Review The origins of a permanent French sailing navy can be traced to the work of Cardinal Richelieu in the 1620s, but this naval force declined rapidly in the 1650s and a virtually new Marine Royale had to be re-created by Colbert from 1661. Thereafter, Louis XIV's navy grew rapidly to become the largest and most powerful in the world, at the same time establishing a reputation for the quality of its ship design that lasted until the end of sail. The eighteenth century was to see defeat and decline, revival and victory, but by 1786 the French Navy had emerged from its most successful naval war having frequently outfought or outmaneuvred the British Navy in battle, and in the process making a major contribution to American independence. This book provides significant technical and building data as well as highlights of the careers of each ship in every class. For the first time, it is possible to form a clear picture of the overall development of French warships throughout the whole of the sailing era. "A handy and quick reference to a variety of vessels . . . [A] top notch reference book." — British Tars, 1740-1790