The Tonnant class was a series of eight 80-gun ships of the line designed in 1787 by Jacques-Noël Sané, whose plans for the prototype were approved on 29 September 1787. With sixteen gunports on the lower deck on each side (although only fifteen of these ports on each side were routinely provided with 36-livre guns) these were the most effective two-deckers of their era[disputed – discuss]. Their broadside of 1,102 livres equated to 1,190 British pounds weight, over 50% more than the standard British 74-gun ship, and even greater than that of a British 100-gun three-decker.
Five ships were ordered from 1787 to 1793, and all were completed during the 1790s; six more were ordered in January 1794 to be built to this design at Toulon, but only three of these were named and laid down. All but one of the eight ships were to be captured or destroyed by the British Navy, and four of these were to enjoy long careers in their new service. The prizes were highly regarded by British sea officers, but they proved costly and time-consuming to maintain.
From 1802 a new group (the Bucentaure class) of French 80-gun ships was begun of slightly modified design, of which more than 24 were begun.
Tonnant class (8 ships)
The design dimensions of these ships (in French pieds of 324.84mm) were 182.5 overall length, 167 keel length x 47.0 breadth x 23.5 depth in hold (see General Characteristics box for metric equivalents and those in UK/US units).
Fate: Captured 2 August 1798 in the Battle of the Nile, renamed HMS Canopus, broken up October 1887
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tonnant class ship of the line.
Winfield, Rif and Roberts, Stephen S. (2017) French Warships in the Age of Sail 1626–1786: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates.. Naval Institute Press, 2017. ISBN978-1-4738-9351-1.
Winfield, Rif and Roberts, Stephen S. (2015) French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-204-2.
January 04, 2023
tonnant, class, ship, line, tonnant, class, series, eight, ships, line, designed, 1787, jacques, noël, sané, whose, plans, prototype, were, approved, september, 1787, with, sixteen, gunports, lower, deck, each, side, although, only, fifteen, these, ports, each. The Tonnant class was a series of eight 80 gun ships of the line designed in 1787 by Jacques Noel Sane whose plans for the prototype were approved on 29 September 1787 With sixteen gunports on the lower deck on each side although only fifteen of these ports on each side were routinely provided with 36 livre guns these were the most effective two deckers of their era disputed discuss Their broadside of 1 102 livres equated to 1 190 British pounds weight over 50 more than the standard British 74 gun ship and even greater than that of a British 100 gun three decker A Tonnant class ship of the line HMS Canopus the former FranklinClass overviewNameTonnantBuildersToulon Brest and RochefortOperators French Navy Royal NavyPreceded bySaint Esprit classSucceeded byBucentaure classIn commission1790 1834Planned11Completed8Cancelled3Lost7Retired1General characteristicsTypeShip of the lineDisplacement1 800 tonnesLength59 28 m 194 5 ft Beam15 27 m 50 1 ft Draught7 80 m 25 6 ft Depth of hold7 64 m 25 1 ft PropulsionSailComplement854 in wartime 866 by 1802 Armament80 guns 30 36 livres 38 875 lbs 32 24 livres 26 92 lbs 18 12 livres 12 96 lbs 4 36 livre howitzersArmourTimberNotesShips in class include Tonnant Indomptable Sans Pareil Indivisible Foudroyant Formidable Guillaume Tell Franklin Five ships were ordered from 1787 to 1793 and all were completed during the 1790s six more were ordered in January 1794 to be built to this design at Toulon but only three of these were named and laid down All but one of the eight ships were to be captured or destroyed by the British Navy and four of these were to enjoy long careers in their new service The prizes were highly regarded by British sea officers but they proved costly and time consuming to maintain From 1802 a new group the Bucentaure class of French 80 gun ships was begun of slightly modified design of which more than 24 were begun Tonnant class 8 ships EditThe design dimensions of these ships in French pieds of 324 84mm were 182 5 overall length 167 keel length x 47 0 breadth x 23 5 depth in hold see General Characteristics box for metric equivalents and those in UK US units TonnantBuilder Toulon Begun December 1787 Launched 24 October 1789 Completed September 1790 Fate Captured 2 August 1798 in the Battle of the Nile added to Royal Navy as HMS Tonnant broken up 1821IndomptableBuilder Brest Begun September 1788 Launched 20 December 1790 Completed April 1793 Fate Wrecked off Rota 22 October 1805 after the Battle of TrafalgarSans PareilBuilder Brest Begun October 1790 Launched 8 June 1793 Completed September 1793 Fate Captured 1 June 1794 by the Royal Navy during Fourth Battle of Ushant broken up October 1842IndivisibleBuilder Brest Begun May 1793 Launched 8 July 1799 Completed October 1799 Fate Renamed Alexandre 5 February 1802 captured by Britain 6 February 1805 hulked 1808 and sold to be broken up May 1822FoudroyantBuilder Rochefort Ordered December 1793 Launched 18 May 1799 Completed August 1800 Fate Struck 26 October 1833 and broken up 1834FormidableBuilder Toulon Begun August 1794 Launched 17 March 1795 Completed October 1795 Fate Captured 3 November 1805 during Battle of Cape Ortegal renamed HMS Brave broken up April 1816Guillaume TellBuilder Toulon Begun September 1794 Launched 21 October 1795 Completed July 1796 Fate Captured 31 March 1800 off Malta renamed HMS Malta broken up August 1840FranklinBuilder Toulon Begun November 1794 Launched 25 June 1797 Completed March 1798 Fate Captured 2 August 1798 in the Battle of the Nile renamed HMS Canopus broken up October 1887References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tonnant class ship of the line Winfield Rif and Roberts Stephen S 2017 French Warships in the Age of Sail 1626 1786 Design Construction Careers and Fates Naval Institute Press 2017 ISBN 978 1 4738 9351 1 Winfield Rif and Roberts Stephen S 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 Tonnant class ship of the line amp oldid 1115094499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
