French corvette 'La Torche' (1795)

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La Torche
Nominal Guns	16	BWAS-1714
Nationality	République Française
Operator	State Navy
Keel Laid Down	6.1794	BWAS-1714
Launched	4.1795	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	1790	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Honfleur - Normandy	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Etna Class (1794)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Pierre-Alexander ForfaitFrench Designer Ship Builder Administrator Service 1773-1806	BWAS-1714
Constructor	CourtoisFrench Ship Builder	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Corvette	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Captured	16.8.1805	BWAS-1714
Becomes	British sloop 'Torch' (1805) (18) 1805-1811 British 18 Gun Unrated Sloop

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck118' 0"Imperial Feet35.9664
Length of Keel97' 4 ¼"Imperial Feet29.572
Breadth32' 9 ½"Imperial Feet9.7663
Depth in Hold10' 0"Imperial Feet3.048
Burthen556 ⁷⁶⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

4.1795Broadside Weight = 144 French Livre (155.4048 lbs 70.488 kg)E-WIKI
Gun Deck16 French 18-Pounder

1798Broadside Weight = 114 French Livre (123.0288 lbs 55.803 kg)FWAS1786
Gun Deck2 French 18-Pounder
Gun Deck16 French 12-Pounder

1 Ship Commander

DatesRankNameSource
1805 - 16.8.1805Lieutenant de VaisseauTRN5

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1802AspirantFWIKI

Service History

DateEventSource
1802

Bound to Martinique

FWIKI
19.7.1805Capture of the Blanche
16.8.1805Taken by
16.8.1805Taken by

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

E-WIKIVarious, Web Site

FWAS1786Stephen S. Roberts, Rif Winfield, Book

FWIKIVarious, Web Site

TRN5William Laird Clowes, Digital Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 15th of June 2026 09:44	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Ambuscade' (1773) (32) 1773-1798 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:19	Jon Miller	Robert BaylisBritish Naval Sailor Service 1790-1795
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:17	Jon Miller	French Privateer brig 'La Cantabré' (1798) (14) 1798-1798 French 14 Gun Privateer Brig
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:16	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Cambrian' (1797) (40) 1797-1828 British 40 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:12	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Kingfisher' (1782) (18) 1782-1798 British 18 Gun Unrated Sloop

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