 Orient being reduced to a 74-gun | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Orient |
| Laid down: | April 1756 [1] |
| Launched: | 9 October 1756 [1] |
| Acquired: | May 1759 [1] |
| Fate: | Wrecked, February 1782 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 3000 tons [2] |
| Length: | 56.5 metres [1] |
| Beam: | 14.5 metres [1] |
| Draught: | 6.8 metres [1] |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement: |
|
| Armament: |
|
Orient was an 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, built by Antoine Groignard.
Orient was built in Lorient for the French East India Company by Antoine Groignard, [3] from April 1756 [Note 1] to August 1759. [2] The French Royal Navy purchased her in May 1759. [2] Originally intended as a 80-gun, she was reduced to a 74-gun in early 1766. [2]
On 14 November 1759, under Captain Guébriant, Orient was part of a 20-ship fleet under Hubert de Brienne attempting invasion of Cornwall. She took part in the subsequent Battle of Quiberon Bay. [1]
Orient underwent a refit in Brest in 1766, [1] and again from 1777 to April 1778. [2] The same year, with the outbreak of the Anglo-French War, she took part in the Battle of Ushant. [1]
On 28 December 1778, under Thomas d'Estienne d'Orves, she sailed from Brest to reinforce the French colony of Isle de France (Mauritius) [5] arriving in September 1779, her crew suffering from scurvy. [1] In 1779, she captured the British privateer Vigilant [1] of Bristol, Marshall, master, and brought her to Lorient. [6]
By April 1781, Estienne d'Orves's health had deteriorated to the point where First Officer Bolle was in effective command. [7] After Estienne d'Orves died on 9 February 1782, Suffren put Captain Lapallière [Note 2] in command. [8]
In 1782, as present at the Battle of Negapatam on 6 July 1782, although she did not take part in the action, and took part in the Battle of Trincomalee between 25 August and 3 September 1782. [1]
In the wake of the Battle of Trincomalee, she was wrecked near Trincomalee in Sri Lanka on 8 September 1782, [1] around 0400, when Ensign Jean Anne Christy de La Pallière insisted to sail on his tack rather to effect a turn as the master pilot advised. Orient touched a rock at Pointe-Sale and stopped. She fired a gun to ask for help, and the rest of Suffren's squadron anchored nearby to provide assistance, but as Orient refloated, she ran into another rock nearby and became a total loss. [9] Part of her rigging was used as spare parts to repair Illustre and Héros. [10] The responsible officer, Ensign Christy de La Pallière, who was the son of Orient's Captain Jean Baptiste Christy de La Pallière, was dismissed from the Navy. [11]
Notes
References
Bibliography
HMS Hannibal was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Adams of Bucklers Hard and launched on 26 December 1779. She was subsequently captured by the French ship Héros off Sumatra, on 21 January 1782.
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.
The Vengeur was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy designed by Antoine Groignard. She saw action with Bailli de Suffren during the American War of Independence.
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.
Jean-Anne Christy de la Pallière, also written "Christy-Pallière", was a French Naval officer.
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.
Saint Michel was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.
Jean-Baptiste Barthélémy Thomas, comte d’Orves was a French Navy officer, who rose to have flag officer rank.
Subtile was a 24-gun corvette of the French Navy
HMS Fortune was a 14-gun sloop launched in 1778 and captured by the French in April 1780 and served with the French navy under the same name.
Consolante was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy, second 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.
Jean André de Pas de Beaulieu was a French Navy officer.
Jacques Marie Boudin de Tromelin, Chevalier de La Nuguy was a French Navy officer. He served in the Indian Ocean under Suffren during the War of American Independence. Tromelin Island is named after him.
Bernard-Marie Boudin de Tromelin was a French Navy officer.
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.
Anne René Augustin de Roscanvec de La Landelle was a French Navy officer. He notably captained the 64-gun Bizarre 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.
Lézard was a 16-gun Cerf-class cutter of the French Navy. She was built in 1781, and took part in the Indian theatre of the Anglo-French War. She was captured by the 74-gun HMS Sultan in October 1782 at Trinquebar, and later returned to France.