French ship Saint-Esprit (1765)

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Vaisseau francais le Saint-Esprit au combat en 1782.jpg
The Saint-Esprit in action.
(Detail of an English painting of 1784)
History
Flag of the Kingdom of France (1814-1830).svg Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg France
NameSaint-Esprit [1]
Namesake Order of the Holy Spirit
Ordered11 January 1762 [1]
BuilderArsenal of Brest [1]
Laid downMay 1762 [1]
Launched12 October 1765 [1]
Christened20 January 1762 [1]
Commissioned1766 [1]
Decommissioned26 January 1795 [1]
RenamedScipion in April 1794 [1]
FateWrecked off Brest on 26 January 1795 [1]
General characteristics
Class and type Saint-Esprit class ship of the line
Displacement1754 tonnes [1]
Length59.8 m (196 ft) [1]
Beam14.9 m (49 ft) [1]
Draught7.5 m (25 ft) [1]
Complement970
Armament

The Saint-Esprit ("Holy Ghost") was an 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. [1] She was funded by a don des vaisseaux donation from the Order of the Holy Spirit, and named in its honour.

Contents

Career

She took part in the Battle of Ushant under La Motte-Picquet, and to the Armada of 1779. [1]

In 1781, on 29 April, she took part in the Battle of Fort Royal under Chabert-Cogolin. [2] [3]

She was renamed Scipion in April 1794, and took part in the Bataille du 13 prairial an 2 under Huguet, where she was totally dismasted. [1] She was wrecked on 30 January 1795, during the Croisière du Grand Hiver. [1] Most of her crew were rescued by Trente-et-un Mai. [1] [4]

Notes and references

Notes

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