French ship Robuste (1758)
 Detail of Edward Moran's First Recognition of the American Flag by a Foreign Government
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} France | |
| Name | Robuste |
| Namesake | "Robust" |
| Ordered | 10 September 1755[1] |
| Builder | Lorient[1] |
| Laid down | September 1757[1] |
| Launched | 2 September 1758[1] |
| Fate | Retired in 1783 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | 74-gun ship of the line |
| Type | ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1600 tonnes |
| Length | 56.8 metres |
| Beam | 14.4 metres |
| Depth of hold | 7 metres |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 866 |
| Armament |
|
Robuste was an 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, built by Antoine Groignard.[2]
Career
[edit]Initially intended as a 64-gun ship, Robuste was built in the Lorient shipyard of the French East India Company. She was launched on 2 September 1758, and admitted to active service in April 1759.[1]
On 18 November 1759, she collided with frigate Hébé.[1]
In June 1777, she was under Lamotte-Picquet, and received the visit of Emperor Joseph II.[1]
On 14 February 1778, Robuste fired a nine-gun salute for USS Ranger, marking the first time a foreign warship recognised the US flag.[3]
Robuste took part in the campaign in 1779 and 1780[1] as De Grasse's flagship.[4] She was notably at the Battle of Grenada.[5]
In 1780, she was under Chateauvert.[6]
In July 1782, under Nieuil, she was part of the Franco-Spanish fleet under Córdova.[7] She took part in the Battle of Cape Spartel on 20 October 1782.[8] The same year, she was at Brest under Croiset de Retz.[9]
She was eventually struck in 1783, and broken up in Brest the next year.[1]
Citations
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Roche (2005), p. 384.
- ^ Binet (1911). "La construction du vaisseau de 100 canons "La Bretagne"". Annales de Bretagne et des pays de l'Ouest. 27–2: 218. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "Centre d'études stratégiques de la Marine - CESM". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
- ^ Archives nationales (2011), p. 258.
- ^ Troude (1867), p. 39.
- ^ Taillemite (1982), p. 28.
- ^ Troude (1867), p. 133.
- ^ Contenson (1934), p. 235.
- ^ Archives nationales (2011), p. 319.
References
[edit]- Contenson, Ludovic (1934). La Société des Cincinnati de France et la guerre d'Amérique (1778-1783). Paris: éditions Auguste Picard. OCLC 7842336.
- 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. (1671-1870)
- Taillemite, Étienne (1982). Dictionnaire des Marins français. Paris: Éditions maritimes et d'Outre-Mer. ISBN 9782707000316. OCLC 239744936.
- Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé.
External links
[edit]- Archives nationales (2011). "Fonds Marine, sous-série B/4: Campagnes, 1571-1785" (PDF). Retrieved 29 April 2020.