French ship Invincible (1780)
Introduction '''''Invincible''''' was a first-rate ship of the line of the French Royal Navy.Built on plans by Francois Guillaume Clairin Deslauriers at Rochefort as part of the French naval mobilisation for the American War of Independence, she was a sister-ship of ''Royal Louis''.She was built within 13 month and completed in May 1780.
[[American Revolutionary War|American War of Independence]] In 1781, stationed in the Antilles, she picked a British convoy.In 1782 she was ordered to Gibraltar, in Lamotte-Picquet's squadron. (Comte de la Motte was her captain April 1781–April 1783).She took part in the Battle of Cape Spartel, where she attacked the rear of the British squadron.She was refitted several time (1781, 1784 and 1795) until her career came to an end in 1807 when she was disarmed and finally broken up in 1808 at Brest. Her replacement was the Commerce de Marseille of 118 guns.
Armament ===Armament 1780===Broadside Weight = 1104 French Livre (1191.4368 lbs 540.408 kg)Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-PounderMiddle Gun Deck: 32x French 24-PounderUpper Gun Deck: 30x French 12-Pounder===Armament 1781===Broadside Weight = 1136 French Livre (1225.9712 lbs 556.072 kg)Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-PounderMiddle Gun Deck: 32x French 24-pound CarronadeUpper Gun Deck: 30x French 12-PounderQuarterdeck/Forecastle: 8x French 8-Pounder===Armament 1784===Broadside Weight = 1168 French Livre (1260.5056 lbs 571.736 kg) Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-PounderMiddle Gun Deck:32x French 24-PounderUpper Gun Deck:30x French 12-PounderQuarterdeck/Forecastle:16x French 8-Pounder===Armament 1795===Broadside Weight = 1252 French Livre (1351.1584 lbs 612.854 kg)Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-PounderMiddle Gun Deck: 32x French 24-PounderUpper Gun Deck:32x French 12-PounderQuarterdeck/Forecastle: 4x French 36-Pounder ObusierQuarterdeck/Forecastle1: 6x French 8-Pounder
References ** ''Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1774 à 1792'', Alain Demerliac* ''French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861'', Rif Winfiled & Stephen S. Roberts
External links *  ''Invincible'' 1780 at Threedecks.org*  French site - Vaisseaux de ligne francais de 1682 a 1780*  French site - Troisponts.net