French Second Rate ship of the line 'L'Excellent' (1678)

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L'Excellent
Nominal Guns	60	NNF-1661
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	6.1677	NNF-1661
Launched	1678	NNF-1661
First Commissioned	4.1680	NNF-1661
How acquired	Purpose built	NNF-1661
Shipyard	Rochefort - Aunis	NNF-1661
Constructor	Honoré MalletFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1679-1698	NNF-1661
Category	Second Rate	NNF-1661
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	NNF-1661
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	NNF-1661
Sold for Break Up	1710	NNF-1661

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1661
Length of Gundeck138' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)44.8224 (147′ 0″ Imperial)
Length of Keel115' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)37.352 (122′ 6″ Imperial)
Breadth34' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)11.0432 (36′ 2″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold16' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.1968 (17′ 0″ Imperial)
Burthen1,000Ton

Armament

4.1680Broadside Weight = 474 French Livre (511.5408 lbs 232.023 kg)NNF-1661
Lower Gun Deck24 French 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck26 French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle10 French 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
4.1680300 NNF-1661

6 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1683Capitaine de Vaisseauref:6871689Capitaine de Vaisseauref:6871690Capitaine de Vaisseauref:6871692Capitaine de VaisseauFWIKI1695Lieutenant-Général des Armées Navalesref:6871704Capitaine de VaisseauFWIKI

1 Crewman

DatesRatingNameSource
1695Garde de la MarineFWIKI

Service History

DateEventSource
23.5.1683Second Bombardment of Algiers
1.5.1689Battle of Bantry Bay
30.6.1690Battle of Beachy Head
19.5.1692Battle of Barfleur
13.8.1704Battle of Malaga
7.1707Sumberged at Toulon to avoid shell fireNNF-1661
1708RefloatedNNF-1661

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

FWIKIVarious, Web Site

NNF-1661Alain Demerliac, Book

ref:687Philippe de Vilette-Mursay, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Saturday 13th of June 2026 18:33	x	British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Convertine' (1650) (40) 1650-1666 British 40 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line
Saturday 13th of June 2026 18:28	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Solebay' (1785) (32) 1785-1809 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Saturday 13th of June 2026 18:27	Jon Miller	Richard BowenBritish Naval Sailor Service 1790-1793
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Saturday 13th of June 2026 18:22	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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