French Second Rate ship of the line 'La Charente' (1669)

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Ganges (74) 1782-1816
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1782)
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Naval Sailor
Service 1685-1693
Thomas CamelfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1797-1799
John Clarke SearleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1811
Gunboat No. 7 (14) 1797-1802
British 14 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
1797 Renamed "Sparkler"
(1797)
Swinger (12) 1794-1802
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Unrated Gun-brig
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Unrated Gunboat
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(1797)
Thomas HopperBritish
Marine
Service 1794-1802
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Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1807
Sir John LawfordBritish
Naval Sailor
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La Charente ➡ 1671 Belliqueux
Nominal Guns	66	FWAS1626
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	6.1666	FWAS1626
Launched	2.1669	FWAS1626
How acquired	Purpose built	FWAS1626
Shipyard	Rochefort Dockyard - Rochefort	FWAS1626
Designed by	Jean LaureFrench Ship Builder Service 1666	FWAS1626
Constructor	Jean LaureFrench Ship Builder Service 1666	FWAS1626
Category	Second Rate	FWAS1626
National Rate	Second Rang	W033
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	W033
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	W033
Wrecked	11.5.1678	FWAS1626

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentW033
Length of Gundeck144' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)46.7712 (153′ 5″ Imperial)
Breadth38' 10"French Feet (Pied du Roi)12.3424 (40′ 5″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold17' 3"French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.5332 (18′ 1″ Imperial)
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1661
Length of Gundeck150' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)48.72 (159′ 10″ Imperial)
Length of Keel128' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)41.5744 (136′ 4″ Imperial)
Breadth38' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)12.3424 (40′ 5″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold14' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)4.5472 (14′ 11″ Imperial)

Armament

1677Broadside Weight = 440 French Livre (474.848 lbs 215.38 kg)FWAS1626
Lower Gun Deck10 French 24-Pounder
Lower Gun Deck14 French 18-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck24 French 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck14 French 6-Pounder
Roundhouse4 French 4-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
2.1669409 NNF-1661
11.5.1678450 ref:687

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1670Capitaine de Vaisseauref:6871677 - 11.5.1678Capitaine de VaisseauFWIKI

1 Passenger

DatesRankNameSource
3.10.1677 - 11.5.1678Capitaine de Vaisseauref:771

Service History

DateEventSource
1671Rerated as a 64 gunnerFWAS1626
24.6.1671Renamed BelliqueuxFWAS1626
1677Rerated as a 66 gunnerFWAS1626
11.12.16772nd Battle of Tobago
28.6.1678

Was to have been renamed Courtisan but had already been wrecked.

FWAS1626

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

FWAS1626Stephen S. Roberts, Rif Winfield, Book

FWIKIVarious, Web Site

NNF-1661Alain Demerliac, Book

W033Ronald Deschenes, Web Site

ref:687Philippe de Vilette-Mursay, Book

ref:771Charles de la Roncière, Digital Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Sunday 14th of June 2026 06:41	Rob Griffith	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Ganges' (1782) (74) 1782-1816 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:20	Jon Miller	Henry WickhamBritish Naval Sailor Service 1685-1693
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:14	Jon Miller	Thomas CamelfordBritish Naval Sailor Service 1797-1799
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:12	Jon Miller	John Clarke SearleBritish Naval Sailor Service 1780-1811
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:09	Jon Miller	British gunboat 'Gunboat No. 7' (1797) (14) 1797-1802 British 14 Gun Unrated Gunboat 1797 Renamed "Sparkler"

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