Censeur was a 74-gun Pégase-classship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1782. She served during the last months of the American War of Independence, and survived to see action in the French Revolutionary Wars. She was briefly captured by the British, but was retaken after a few months and taken back into French service as Révolution. She served until 1799, when she was transferred to the Spanish Navy, but was found to be rotten and was broken up.
Censeur was laid down at Rochefort in August 1781 to a design by Antoine Groignard.[a] Launched on 24 August 1782, she had entered service by October that year.[1] She was one of the ships captured during the occupation of Toulon in 1793, though she was left to fall into Republican hands intact in the withdrawal.[1]
On 3 March 1795 Censeur, under her captain Louis-Marie Coudé, formed part of a fleet of 15 ships of the line under the command of Rear-Admiral Pierre Martin, which sailed from Toulon bound for Corsica with 5,000 troops.[2] The fleet was intercepted in the Gulf of Genoa on 13 March by a British force under the command of Vice-Admiral William Hotham, which promptly gave chase to the French. Martin attempted to flee, but in the confusion two of his 80-gun ships, Ça Ira and Victoire, collided, causing the Ça Ira to lose her fore and main topmasts.[2] Several British ships, including the 64-gun HMS Agamemnon under Captain Horatio Nelson, came up to the straggling Ça Ira and opened fire, causing Martin to double back to protect her.[2] A cautious Hotham called his ships back and reformed the line, and as night fell Martin disengaged and resumed his flight, with the Censeur towing the Ça Ira.[2] At daybreak on 14 March the British resumed their attack on the still lagging Ça Ira and Censeur. Martin again attempted to come to their aid, but after some heavy fighting, withdrew with his transports, leaving both ships to be captured by the British.[2] The two ships fought on until Censeur had lost her fore and main masts, and sustained combined casualties of 400 men.[3]
She was placed under the temporary command of Commander Thomas Boys immediately after her capture, after which Captain Sir John Gore was placed in command.[1]Censeur, jury-rigged and armed en flûte was then sent back to England with a convoy under Commodore Thomas Taylor. It consisted of 63 merchants of the Levant convoy, the 74-gun ships HMS Fortitude under Taylor, and HMS Bedford under Captain Augustus Montgomery, the 44-gun HMS Argo under Captain Richard Randall Burgess, the 32-gun frigates HMS Juno, Captain Lord Amelius Beauclerk, HMS Lutine, Captain William Haggit, and the fireship HMS Tisiphone, Captain Joseph Turner.[4] The convoy called at Gibraltar on 25 September, at which point thirty-two of the merchants left that night in company with Argo and Juno.[4] The rest of the fleet sailed together, reaching Cape St Vincent by the early morning of 7 October. At this point a sizeable French squadron was sighted bearing up, consisting of six ships of the line and three frigates under Rear-Admiral Joseph de Richery.[5] The British ships of the line formed a defensive line, but as they were doing so Censeur's jury-rigged foretopmast carried away, and only having been fitted with a frigate's mainmast, she was obliged to fall behind. Fortitude and Bedford hung back to support her, and resisted the French attack for an hour, during which Censeur's remaining top masts were shot away and she exhausted her supply of powder.[4] Gore surrendered his ship, and the remaining British warships and one surviving merchant of the convoy made their escape.[4]
Last yearsedit
She was re-added to French Navy as Révolution and served with them until 1799, when she was transferred by France to Spain in consequence of the Second Treaty of San Ildefonso.[1] In exchange for Censeur the French received the Spanish 74-gun San Sebastian, which they renamed Alliance.[6]Censeur was however found to be rotten, and was broken up.[1]
Notesedit
a.^ The six ships of the Pégase-class proved unlucky in their encounters with the Royal Navy. Pégase, the nameship of the class, was captured by the British in 1782, less than a year after being launched, and served in the Royal Navy until 1815.[7]Liberté, Suffisant, Puissant, Alcide and Censeur were all taken by Royalist forces during the occupation of Toulon in 1793, with Liberté and Suffisant being burnt in the withdrawal, Puissant taken away and added to the Royal Navy, and Alcide and Censeur left to fall back into Republican hands.[1]Alcide blew up while fighting a British and Neopolitan fleet at the Naval Battle of Hyères Islands in July 1795.
Winfield, Rif and Roberts, Stephen (2015) French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-204-2.
December 15, 2023
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Censeur was a 74 gun Pegase class ship of the line of the French Navy launched in 1782 She served during the last months of the American War of Independence and survived to see action in the French Revolutionary Wars She was briefly captured by the British but was retaken after a few months and taken back into French service as Revolution She served until 1799 when she was transferred to the Spanish Navy but was found to be rotten and was broken up HistoryFranceNameCenseurBuilderRochefortLaid downAugust 1781Launched24 August 1782CommissionedBy October 1782CapturedBy the British at the Battle of Genoa on 14 March 1795Great BritainNameCenseurAcquiredCaptured from the French on 14 March 1795CapturedBy the French on 7 October 1795FranceNameRevolutionFateTransferred to Spain and broken up in 1799General characteristicsClass and type74 gun Pegase class ship of the lineTons burthen1 820 bmLength178 ft 9 in 54 48 m gundeck 146 ft 5 5 in 44 641 m keel Beam48 ft 0 75 in 14 6495 m Depth of hold21 ft 4 in 6 50 m PropulsionSailsSail planFull rigged shipComplement640Armament74 guns of various weights of shot Contents 1 Construction and early service 1 1 Capture 2 British service and recapture 3 Last years 4 Notes 5 Citations 6 ReferencesConstruction and early service editCenseur was laid down at Rochefort in August 1781 to a design by Antoine Groignard a Launched on 24 August 1782 she had entered service by October that year 1 She was one of the ships captured during the occupation of Toulon in 1793 though she was left to fall into Republican hands intact in the withdrawal 1 nbsp Ca Ira fighting British ships at GenoaCapture edit Main article Naval Battle of Genoa 1795 On 3 March 1795 Censeur under her captain Louis Marie Coude formed part of a fleet of 15 ships of the line under the command of Rear Admiral Pierre Martin which sailed from Toulon bound for Corsica with 5 000 troops 2 The fleet was intercepted in the Gulf of Genoa on 13 March by a British force under the command of Vice Admiral William Hotham which promptly gave chase to the French Martin attempted to flee but in the confusion two of his 80 gun ships Ca Ira and Victoire collided causing the Ca Ira to lose her fore and main topmasts 2 Several British ships including the 64 gun HMS Agamemnon under Captain Horatio Nelson came up to the straggling Ca Ira and opened fire causing Martin to double back to protect her 2 A cautious Hotham called his ships back and reformed the line and as night fell Martin disengaged and resumed his flight with the Censeur towing the Ca Ira 2 At daybreak on 14 March the British resumed their attack on the still lagging Ca Ira and Censeur Martin again attempted to come to their aid but after some heavy fighting withdrew with his transports leaving both ships to be captured by the British 2 The two ships fought on until Censeur had lost her fore and main masts and sustained combined casualties of 400 men 3 British service and recapture editMain article Action of 7 October 1795 She was placed under the temporary command of Commander Thomas Boys immediately after her capture after which Captain Sir John Gore was placed in command 1 Censeur jury rigged and armed en flute was then sent back to England with a convoy under Commodore Thomas Taylor It consisted of 63 merchants of the Levant convoy the 74 gun ships HMS Fortitude under Taylor and HMS Bedford under Captain Augustus Montgomery the 44 gun HMS Argo under Captain Richard Randall Burgess the 32 gun frigates HMS Juno Captain Lord Amelius Beauclerk HMS Lutine Captain William Haggit and the fireship HMS Tisiphone Captain Joseph Turner 4 The convoy called at Gibraltar on 25 September at which point thirty two of the merchants left that night in company with Argo and Juno 4 The rest of the fleet sailed together reaching Cape St Vincent by the early morning of 7 October At this point a sizeable French squadron was sighted bearing up consisting of six ships of the line and three frigates under Rear Admiral Joseph de Richery 5 The British ships of the line formed a defensive line but as they were doing so Censeur s jury rigged foretopmast carried away and only having been fitted with a frigate s mainmast she was obliged to fall behind Fortitude and Bedford hung back to support her and resisted the French attack for an hour during which Censeur s remaining top masts were shot away and she exhausted her supply of powder 4 Gore surrendered his ship and the remaining British warships and one surviving merchant of the convoy made their escape 4 Last years editShe was re added to French Navy as Revolution and served with them until 1799 when she was transferred by France to Spain in consequence of the Second Treaty of San Ildefonso 1 In exchange for Censeur the French received the Spanish 74 gun San Sebastian which they renamed Alliance 6 Censeur was however found to be rotten and was broken up 1 Notes edita The six ships of the Pegase class proved unlucky in their encounters with the Royal Navy Pegase the nameship of the class was captured by the British in 1782 less than a year after being launched and served in the Royal Navy until 1815 7 Liberte Suffisant Puissant Alcide and Censeur were all taken by Royalist forces during the occupation of Toulon in 1793 with Liberte and Suffisant being burnt in the withdrawal Puissant taken away and added to the Royal Navy and Alcide and Censeur left to fall back into Republican hands 1 Alcide blew up while fighting a British and Neopolitan fleet at the Naval Battle of Hyeres Islands in July 1795 Citations edit a b c d e f Winfield 2008 British Warships in the Age of Sail p 62 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link a b c d e Palmer Command at Sea p 169 James The Naval History of Great Britain Volume 1 p 261 a b c d James The Naval History of Great Britain Volume 1 p 273 James The Naval History of Great Britain Volume 1 p 274 Lambert Warship Volume 10 p 211 Winfield 2007 British Warships in the Age of Sail p 82 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link References editJames William 2002 1827 The Naval History of Great Britain Volume 1 1488 1796 Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 906 9 OCLC 255340498 Andrew Lambert ed 1989 Warship Vol 10 Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 85177 449 0 Palmer Michael A 2007 Command at Sea Naval Command and Control Since the Sixteenth Century Harvard University Press ISBN 978 0 674 02411 3 Winfield Rif 2007 British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714 1792 Design Construction Careers and Fates Seaforth ISBN 978 1 84415 700 6 Winfield Rif 2008 British Warships in the Age of Sail 1794 1817 Design Construction Careers and Fates Seaforth ISBN 978 1 86176 246 7 Winfield Rif and Roberts Stephen 2015 French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786 1861 Design Construction Careers and Fates Seaforth Publishing ISBN 978 1 84832 204 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title French ship Censeur 1782 amp oldid 1168514483, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
