Couronne was built at Brest, having been started in May 1781 and launched in August that year. She probably was built from the salvaged remains of her predecessor, Couronne, which had been accidentally burnt at the dockyard in April 1781. She had a refit at Toulon in 1784.[1]
French Revolutionedit
In 1792 she was renamed Ça Ira, in reference to the revolutionary anthem Ah! ça ira.
Ça Ira (center) fighting at the Battle of Genoa on 14 March 1795
On 14 March 1795, she took part in the Battle of Genoa under Captain Coudé, in which a French squadron, under Admiral Pierre Martin, was pursued off Alassio by a superior British fleet consisting of 15 ships of the line under Lord Hotham. During the chase, around 9:00, Ça Ira ran afoul of Victoire, losing her fore and main topmasts and falling back of the French squadron. The frigate HMS Inconstant under Captain Thomas Fremantle caught up and engaged Ça Ira; Vestale came to help, fired distant broadsides at Inconstant and took Ça Ira in tow.[2]Ça Ira began a heavy fire on Inconstant which forced her to retreat. At 10:45, HMS Agamemnon under Captain Horatio Nelson caught up and opened fire, shortly aided by HMS Captain; the artillery duel continued for four hours until French ships came to support Ça Ira, compelling Agamemnon to retreat.
During the night, Vestale was relieved by the 74-gun Censeur in towing the now dismasted Ça Ira. In the morning, the British fleet had come in windward; HMS Captain caught up and engaged the two French ships, which battered her for 1 hour and 15 minutes, leaving her severely damaged, in distress, and eventually to be towed away from the action. HMS Bedford came to reinforce Captain, and had her rigging also severely damaged. The British fire had also reduced Ça Ira and Censeur to an almost helpless state. The main of the French fleet attempted to come to the rescue of her rear again and seize the opportunity of the battered state of the British vanguard, but the lack of wind, incompetent French gunnery, and opposition by HMS Illustrious and HMS Courageux prevented any effective action. Only the Duquesne intervened, and had to retreat after she sustained damage and casualties.[3]Ça Ira and Censeur tried to fight but due to a false manoeuvre Ça Ira collided with Censeur; her rigging fell on Censeur, stranding both ships. As a favourable wind built up, the French squadron retreated, leaving Censeur and Ça Ira without hope of rescue. Men from Agamemnon boarded Ça Ira and captured her. Reduced to hulks, the French ships eventually struck. They were taken into Spezia Bay.
Late careeredit
Ça Ira was commissioned in the Royal Navy, but in too battered a state to serve, she was used as a hospital hulk in Saint-Florent.
Ça Ira was destroyed on 11 April 1796 in an accidental fire; boats from other ships attempted to aid, but as the fire became out of control, Ça Ira was evacuated and brought away from the anchorage. She drifted and ran aground half a mile to the northward of the citadel and burnt to the water line. An inquiry subsequently concluded that the fire had been accidentally put on by a "bottle of combustible matter improperly kept in the carpenters cabin", and acquitted the officers from blame.[4]
Archaeological discoveryedit
In 1988, a 19th-century map was discovered, allowing the discovery of the wreck the following year, and its subsequent excavation. From 1990 to 1995, underwater archaeological survey was undertaken by Tech Sub, a non-profit organisation.
Citationsedit
^la fin du Ca-Ira, par Pierre Villié, directeur de fouille
^The Naval History of Great Britain, by William James, Frederick Chamier
^Histoire Militaire: Histoire des armées françaises de terre et de mer de 1792 à 1837. Retrieved 15 February 2022. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
Winfield, Rif; Roberts, Stephen S. (2015). French warships in the age of sail, 1786-1861. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-184832-204-2.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ça Ira (Ship, 1781).
(in French) Historie du Ca-ira
Ca-Ira, vaisseau français de 80 canons 1781-1796 by pierre Villié and martine Acerra Book review in INA Quarterly (Institut of Nautical Archaeology)
(in French)
February 27, 2024
french, ship, 1781, other, ships, with, same, name, french, ship, couronne, french, ship, couronne, ship, line, french, navy, model, couronne, display, château, brest, historyfrancenameça, irabuilderarsenal, brestlaid, downmay, 1781launchedaugust, 1781christen. For other ships with the same name see French ship La Couronne and French ship Ca Ira The Couronne was an 80 gun ship of the line of the French Navy Model of Couronne on display at the Chateau de Brest HistoryFranceNameCa IraBuilderArsenal of BrestLaid downMay 1781LaunchedAugust 1781Christened1781 as La CouronneRenamedRenamed Ca Ira in 1792CapturedCaptured by the Royal Navy on 14 March 1795FateBurnt 1796General characteristicsClass and typeSaint Esprit class ship of the lineDisplacement1754 tonnesLength59 8 m 196 ft Beam14 9 m 49 ft Draught7 5 m 25 ft Complement970Armament80 guns 30 36 pounder long guns 32 24 pounder long guns 18 18 pounder long guns Contents 1 Career 1 1 French Revolution 1 2 Late career 2 Archaeological discovery 3 Citations 4 References 5 External linksCareer editCouronne was built at Brest having been started in May 1781 and launched in August that year She probably was built from the salvaged remains of her predecessor Couronne which had been accidentally burnt at the dockyard in April 1781 She had a refit at Toulon in 1784 1 French Revolution edit In 1792 she was renamed Ca Ira in reference to the revolutionary anthem Ah ca ira nbsp Ca Ira center fighting at the Battle of Genoa on 14 March 1795On 14 March 1795 she took part in the Battle of Genoa under Captain Coude in which a French squadron under Admiral Pierre Martin was pursued off Alassio by a superior British fleet consisting of 15 ships of the line under Lord Hotham During the chase around 9 00 Ca Ira ran afoul of Victoire losing her fore and main topmasts and falling back of the French squadron The frigate HMS Inconstant under Captain Thomas Fremantle caught up and engaged Ca Ira Vestale came to help fired distant broadsides at Inconstant and took Ca Ira in tow 2 Ca Ira began a heavy fire on Inconstant which forced her to retreat At 10 45 HMS Agamemnon under Captain Horatio Nelson caught up and opened fire shortly aided by HMS Captain the artillery duel continued for four hours until French ships came to support Ca Ira compelling Agamemnon to retreat During the night Vestale was relieved by the 74 gun Censeur in towing the now dismasted Ca Ira In the morning the British fleet had come in windward HMS Captain caught up and engaged the two French ships which battered her for 1 hour and 15 minutes leaving her severely damaged in distress and eventually to be towed away from the action HMS Bedford came to reinforce Captain and had her rigging also severely damaged The British fire had also reduced Ca Ira and Censeur to an almost helpless state The main of the French fleet attempted to come to the rescue of her rear again and seize the opportunity of the battered state of the British vanguard but the lack of wind incompetent French gunnery and opposition by HMS Illustrious and HMS Courageux prevented any effective action Only the Duquesne intervened and had to retreat after she sustained damage and casualties 3 Ca Ira and Censeur tried to fight but due to a false manoeuvre Ca Ira collided with Censeur her rigging fell on Censeur stranding both ships As a favourable wind built up the French squadron retreated leaving Censeur and Ca Ira without hope of rescue Men from Agamemnon boarded Ca Ira and captured her Reduced to hulks the French ships eventually struck They were taken into Spezia Bay Late career edit Ca Ira was commissioned in the Royal Navy but in too battered a state to serve she was used as a hospital hulk in Saint Florent Ca Ira was destroyed on 11 April 1796 in an accidental fire boats from other ships attempted to aid but as the fire became out of control Ca Ira was evacuated and brought away from the anchorage She drifted and ran aground half a mile to the northward of the citadel and burnt to the water line An inquiry subsequently concluded that the fire had been accidentally put on by a bottle of combustible matter improperly kept in the carpenters cabin and acquitted the officers from blame 4 Archaeological discovery editIn 1988 a 19th century map was discovered allowing the discovery of the wreck the following year and its subsequent excavation From 1990 to 1995 underwater archaeological survey was undertaken by Tech Sub a non profit organisation Citations edit la fin du Ca Ira par Pierre Villie directeur de fouille The Naval History of Great Britain by William James Frederick Chamier Histoire Militaire Histoire des armees francaises de terre et de mer de 1792 a 1837 Retrieved 15 February 2022 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a website ignored help le Ca Ira dans les archives anglaisesReferences editWinfield Rif Roberts Stephen S 2015 French warships in the age of sail 1786 1861 Barnsley Seaforth Publishing ISBN 978 184832 204 2 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ca Ira Ship 1781 in French Historie du Ca ira Ca Ira vaisseau francais de 80 canons 1781 1796 by pierre Villie and martine Acerra Book review in INA Quarterly Institut of Nautical Archaeology in French La bataille du cap Noli Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title French ship Ca Ira 1781 amp oldid 1169002892, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
