French Second Rate ship of the line 'Le Sceptre' (1670)

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Le Sceptre ➡ 1691 Sceptre Vieux
Nominal Guns	80	FWAS1626
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	4.1668	FWAS1626
Named	1.2.1669	FWAS1626
Launched	11.2.1670	FWAS1626
How acquired	Purpose built	FWAS1626
Shipyard	Toulon Dockyard - Toulon	FWAS1626
Designed by	Laurent CoulombFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1664	FWAS1626
Constructor	Laurent CoulombFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1664	FWAS1626
Category	Second Rate	FWAS1626
National Rate	Premier Rang	W033
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	W033
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	W033
Broken Up	6.1692	FWAS1626

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentW033
Length of Gundeck148' 0"`French Feet (Pied du Roi)48.0704 (157′ 8″ Imperial)
Breadth42' 0"`French Feet (Pied du Roi)13.6416 (44′ 9″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold19' 0"`French Feet (Pied du Roi)6.1712 (20′ 2″ Imperial)
Burthen1,600Ton
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentFWAS1626
Length of Gundeck148' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)48.0704 (157′ 8″ Imperial)
Length of Keel122' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)39.6256 (130′ 0″ Imperial)
Breadth42' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)13.6416 (44′ 9″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold19' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)6.1712 (20′ 2″ Imperial)
Draught Aft20' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)6.496 (21′ 3″ Imperial)
Burthen1,600Tonneaux

Armament

11.2.1670Broadside Weight = 568 French Livre (612.9856 lbs 278.036 kg)FWAS1626
Lower Gun Deck12 French 24-Pounder
Lower Gun Deck14 French 18-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck14 French 18-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck12 French 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 French 8-Pounder
Roundhouse6 French 4-Pounder

1674Broadside Weight = 580 French Livre (625.936 lbs 283.91 kg)FWAS1626
Lower Gun Deck12 French 24-Pounder
Lower Gun Deck14 French 18-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck14 French 18-Pound Carronade
Middle Gun Deck12 French 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck26 French 8-Pounder
Roundhouse4 French 4-Pounder

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1675Chef d'Escadre des Galèresref:7711676Chef d'EscadreE-WIKI

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1676Enseigne de Vaisseauref:687

Service History

DateEventSource
1674Rerated as a 84 gunnerFWAS1626
11.2.1674/75First battle of Stromboli
8.1.1675/76Second battle of Stromboli
22.4.1676Battle of Agosta
2.6.1676Battle of Palermo
1679Rerated as a 76 gunnerFWAS1626
1690Rerated as a 80 gunnerFWAS1626
1691Rerated as a 84 gunnerFWAS1626
5.1691Renamed Sceptre VieuxFWAS1626

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

E-WIKIVarious, Web Site

FWAS1626Stephen S. Roberts, Rif Winfield, 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
Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:37	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Puissant' (1793) (74) 1793-1816 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:33	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Stork' (1796) (16) 1796-1816 British 16 Gun Unrated Sloop
Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:28	Jon Miller	David HotchkisBritish Naval Sailor Service 1779-1797
Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:21	Jon Miller	British Second Rate ship of the line 'Sandwich' (1759) (90) 1759-1810 British 90 Gun 2nd Rate Ship of the Line
Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:18	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Bedford' (1775) (74) 1775-1817 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line

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