French ship Robuste (1758)

Robuste was an 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, built by Antoine Groignard.[2]

Detail of Edward Moran's First Recognition of the American Flag by a Foreign Government
History
French Royal Navy EnsignFrance
NameRobuste
Namesake"Robust"
Ordered10 September 1755[1]
BuilderLorient[1]
Laid downSeptember 1757[1]
Launched2 September 1758[1]
FateRetired in 1783
General characteristics
Class and type74-gun ship of the line
Typeship of the line
Tons burthen1600 tonnes
Length56.8 metres
Beam14.4 metres
Depth of hold7 metres
PropulsionSail
Complement866
Armament

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

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Roche (2005), p. 384.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Centre d'études stratégiques de la Marine - CESM". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  4. ^ Archives nationales (2011), p. 258.
  5. ^ Troude (1867), p. 39.
  6. ^ Taillemite (1982), p. 28.
  7. ^ Troude (1867), p. 133.
  8. ^ Contenson (1934), p. 235.
  9. ^ Archives nationales (2011), p. 319.

References edit

External links edit