| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Hardi |
| Builder | Rochefort [1] |
| Laid down | 1748 [1] |
| Launched | 1750 [1] |
| In service | April 1751 [1] |
| Out of service | 1798 |
| Fate | Hulked 1786 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Hardi class ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1100 tons |
| Length | 48.4 metres [1] |
| Beam | 13.2 metres [1] |
| Draught | 6.6 metres [1] |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 64 guns |
Hardi was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.
Built from 1748, Hardi was activated during the Seven Years' War, departing Rochefort in March 1757 with Jacinthe, bound for Martinique where she arrived on 13 May 1757. Incorporated into Admiral du Chaffault's squadron, she took part in the Siege of Louisbourg and in the action of 27 October 1758 off Ushant. [1]
In 1778, Hardi was reactivated for the American Revolutionary War; she departed Toulon on 16 July, under Le Roy de La Grange, to rejoin the squadron under Louis de Fabry. On 20 June 1780, she departed Toulon to join with the squadron under Rear-Admiral de Beausset and take part in the Great Siege of Gibraltar. The next year, on 24 April 1781, she departed Brest with the squadron under La Motte-Picquet and took part in the action of 2 May 1782, in which the French captured 18 British merchantmen bound for St. Eustatius, worth around 5 million pounds. [1]
In early 1782, Hardi transferred to the Indian Ocean to reinforce Suffren's squadron in the Indian Ocean. There, she took part in the Cuddalore on 20 June 1783. [1] [2]
From 1786, Hardi was hulked in Toulon and used as a prison ship. [1]
Justin-Bonaventure Morard de Galles was a French navy officer and admiral.
Bellone was an Iphigénie-class 32-gun frigate of the French Navy on plans by Léon-Michel Guignace. She took part in the American Revolutionary War in the Indian Ocean with the squadron under Suffren, and later in the French Revolutionary Wars. She was present at the Glorious First of June.
The Illustre was a 74-gun Magnanime class ship of the line of the French Navy. She took part in the War of American Independence and in the French Revolutionary Wars. Damaged beyond repairs during the Expédition d'Irlande, she was scuttled on 30 December 1796.
Admiral comte Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez, bailli de Suffren, Château de Saint-Cannat) was a French Navy officer and admiral. Beginning his career during the War of the Austrian Succession, he fought in the Seven Years' War, where he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Lagos. Promoted to captain in 1772, he was one of the aids of Admiral d'Estaing during the Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War, notably taking part in the Siege of Savannah.
Pierre Servan René Bouvet de Maisonneuve was a French naval officer. He served in several notable battles, notably the action of 17 June 1778, and the battles conducted by Suffren in the Indian Ocean. He was wounded at the Battle of Porto Praya. He was the father of Pierre François Étienne Bouvet de Maisonneuve.
The Pourvoyeuse was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. She is notable as one of the earliest attempts at building a frigate armed with 24-pounders on the artillery deck, rather than the 18-pounders typical of the day.
Brillant was a 64-gun Solitaire-class ship of the line of the French Navy.
The Fendant was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. Designed by Antoine Groignard, she was the first ship to be built under a roof cover. She served in Suffren's campaign against the British in India during the American Revolutionary War, and was wrecked in 1783 near Pondicherry.
Ajax was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.
Saint Michel was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.
Bizarre was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. She was present at two major battles, and was wrecked in 1782.
Fine was a Sybille class 32-gun, copper-hulled, frigate of the French Navy.
Subtile was a 24-gun corvette of the French Navy
Salomon was merchantman built in Nantes that the French Royal Navy purchased and commissioned as a fluyt. In 1781, she was reclassified as a fireship and renamed Pulvérisateur, and served in the Indian Ocean in Suffren's squadron under capitaine de brûlot Villaret de Joyeuse.
Armand de Saint-Félix was a French Navy officer and admiral.
René Joseph Bouvet de Précourt was a French Navy officer. He was captain of the 64-gun Ajax in Suffren's squadron in the Indian Ocean during the War of American Independence, and fought at the Battle of Sadras on 17 February 1782.
Jean Baptiste Christy de La Pallière was a French Navy officer. He notably he captained the 74-gun Orient at the Battle of Sadras on 17 February 1782, at the Battle of Providien on 12 April 1782, at the Battle of Negapatam on 6 July 1782, and at the Battle of Trincomalee from 25 August to 3 September 1782.
Michel-Joseph Cramezel de Kerhué was a French Navy officer. He fought in the War of American Independence, and took part in the French operations in the Indian Ocean under Admiral Suffren.
Jean-Paul de Ruyter-Werfusé was a French Navy officer. He notably captained the 40-gun frigate Pourvoyeuse and the 50-gun Petit Annibal in Suffren's squadron during the Anglo-French War.
Du Pas de la Mancelière was a French Navy officer. He notably captained the 64-gun Ajax in Suffren's squadron during the Anglo-French War, and was killed in action at the Battle of Cuddalore.