The 64-gun ship of the line was a type of two-decker warship defined during the 18th century, named after the number of their guns. 64-guns had a lower battery of 24-pounders, and an upper battery of 12-pounders. Heavier variants with 18-pounder on the upper deck also existed.[1]
The French Navy used "64-gun" as a typology for its ships. In the British Royal Navy, such lighter two-deckers were considered to be Third-rates, like 74-guns and 80-guns.
During the reign of Louis XIV, numerous ships carried 60 or 62 guns, with a lower battery pierced for 12 guns on each side. During the reign of Louis XV, standardisation efforts were undertaken to rationalise the design and construction of these ships, with a common armament of 24-pounder, 12-pounder and 8-pounder long guns. The first 64-gun in this sense was Borée, launched in 1734 and pierced with 13 gun ports on each side of her lower battery. The British started copying these ships from 1764 with HMS Asia, and also stopped building 60-gun ships. British ships had a slightly heavier broadside, as they typically carried 18-pounders on their upper gundeck, while the French would usually have 12-pounders.
64-guns were no match for 74-guns, which had a 36-pounders (in France) or 32-pounders (in England) lower battery and 18-pounders on the upper gundeck (some later units even experimented with 24-pounders in the upper deck), and were usually slower than frigates. Their main advantage were their cheaper cost, and lower draft. This would be especially important for operations in India.
The French built 61 of these 64-gun ships, the last one being Jason in 1779. Three were razeed, turning them into frigates capable of carrying a 24-pounder main armament, although these ships typically fell back to 18-pounders like most heavy frigates of their time.
The British built 43, and maintained production a while longer, as 64-guns were useful for escorting merchant convoys. The last British 64-gun to be launched was HMS Veteran, in 1787.
DimensionsEdit
Most 64-gun were one-offs, and the others were part of short series put in production in the mid-18th century. In France, the main classes of 64-guns were
The Lion class: Lion, Sage and Fantasque (1751-1758) ;
French regulations of 1 January 1786 defined the wartime crew as 538 men, while the peacetime crew was 377. This comprised 12 officers, 7 student or volunteer officiers, 47 non-commissioned officers, 36 gunners of the troupes de marine, 6 helmsmen, 288 seamen, 70 soldiers of the troupes de marine or Line infantry, 44 boys, 13 valets and 12 others.
Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé. OCLC 836362484.
External linksEdit
. ancre.fr/. Archived from the original on 2011-01-22. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
"Maquette du Fleuron". maquettes-marine.pagesperso-orange.fr/.
"Le Fleuron". gerard.delacroix.pagesperso-orange.fr/.
. ancre.fr/. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010.
August 29, 2023
ship, line, type, decker, warship, defined, during, 18th, century, named, after, number, their, guns, guns, lower, battery, pounders, upper, battery, pounders, heavier, variants, with, pounder, upper, deck, also, existed, view, rochefort, harbour, joseph, vern. The 64 gun ship of the line was a type of two decker warship defined during the 18th century named after the number of their guns 64 guns had a lower battery of 24 pounders and an upper battery of 12 pounders Heavier variants with 18 pounder on the upper deck also existed 1 View of Rochefort harbour by Joseph Vernet showing a 74 gun and a 64 gun moored side by side Contents 1 History 2 Dimensions 3 Armament 4 Crew 5 Sources and references 5 1 Citations 5 2 Bibliography 5 3 External linksHistory EditThe French Navy used 64 gun as a typology for its ships In the British Royal Navy such lighter two deckers were considered to be Third rates like 74 guns and 80 guns During the reign of Louis XIV numerous ships carried 60 or 62 guns with a lower battery pierced for 12 guns on each side During the reign of Louis XV standardisation efforts were undertaken to rationalise the design and construction of these ships with a common armament of 24 pounder 12 pounder and 8 pounder long guns The first 64 gun in this sense was Boree launched in 1734 and pierced with 13 gun ports on each side of her lower battery The British started copying these ships from 1764 with HMS Asia and also stopped building 60 gun ships British ships had a slightly heavier broadside as they typically carried 18 pounders on their upper gundeck while the French would usually have 12 pounders 64 guns were no match for 74 guns which had a 36 pounders in France or 32 pounders in England lower battery and 18 pounders on the upper gundeck some later units even experimented with 24 pounders in the upper deck and were usually slower than frigates Their main advantage were their cheaper cost and lower draft This would be especially important for operations in India The French built 61 of these 64 gun ships the last one being Jason in 1779 Three were razeed turning them into frigates capable of carrying a 24 pounder main armament although these ships typically fell back to 18 pounders like most heavy frigates of their time The British built 43 and maintained production a while longer as 64 guns were useful for escorting merchant convoys The last British 64 gun to be launched was HMS Veteran in 1787 Dimensions EditMost 64 gun were one offs and the others were part of short series put in production in the mid 18th century In France the main classes of 64 guns were The Lion class Lion Sage and Fantasque 1751 1758 The Artesien class by Joseph Louis Ollivier Artesien Roland Alexandre Protee and Eveille 64 launched 10 December 1772 at Brest The Brillant class Brillant and Solitaire The Reflechi class Reflechi and CatonThe late 18th century 64 guns were between 43 and 48 metres long about 13 5 metres wide and had a hull depth of 5 5 to 6 metres Armament Edit Arsenal model of Artesien with 24 pounders on the lower gundeck and 12 poudners in the upper French 64 guns carried the standardised armament of 26 24 pounders on the lower gundeck 28 12 pounders on the upper gundeck 10 6 pounders on the forecastle and quarterdeck Amounting to a 510 pound broadside British ships would typically carry 26 24 pounders on the lower gundeck 26 18 pounders on the upper 10 4 pounders and 2 9 pounders on forecastle and quarterdeck Amounting to a 575 pound broadside Crew EditFrench regulations of 1 January 1786 defined the wartime crew as 538 men while the peacetime crew was 377 This comprised 12 officers 7 student or volunteer officiers 47 non commissioned officers 36 gunners of the troupes de marine 6 helmsmen 288 seamen 70 soldiers of the troupes de marine or Line infantry 44 boys 13 valets and 12 others Sources and references EditCitations Edit Troude 1867 p 28 Bibliography Edit Troude Onesime Joachim 1867 Batailles navales de la France in French Vol 2 Challamel aine OCLC 836362484 External links Edit Monographie du Fleuron 1729 ancre fr Archived from the original on 2011 01 22 Retrieved 2020 05 22 Maquette du Fleuron maquettes marine pagesperso orange fr Le Fleuron gerard delacroix pagesperso orange fr La monographie de l Artesien 1764 ancre fr Archived from the original on 4 March 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 64 gun ship amp oldid 1138003429, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
