French Third Rate ship of the line 'Le Sphinx' (1775)

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Recent Comments

Eurydice (24) 1781-1834
British 24 Gun
6th Rate Ship
(1781)
Topaze (32) 1793-1814
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1793)
Lively (Unknown) 1784-1784
British Unknown Gun
Unrated Cutter
(1784)
La Manche (20) 1800-1800
French 20 Gun
Privateer Unknown
(1800)
Eurydice (24) 1781-1834
British 24 Gun
6th Rate Ship
(1781)
Topaze (32) 1793-1814
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1793)
Nassau (64) 1785-1799
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1785)
Wellesley (Unknown) 1801-1804
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1801)
Nassau (64) 1785-1799
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1785)
Impregnable (98) 1786-1799
British 98 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
(1786)
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Le Sphinx
Nominal Guns	64	NNF-1715
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Previously	French Third Rate ship of the line 'Le Sphinx' (1755) (64) 1755-1775 French 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Keel Laid Down	1.1775	NNF-1715
Launched	1.1775	NNF-1715
First Commissioned	1777	NNF-1715
How acquired	Purpose built	NNF-1715
Shipyard	Brest - Brittany	NNF-1774
Ship Class	Sphinx Class (1755)	NNF-1774
Constructor	Pierre SalinocFrench Ship Builder	NNF-1774
Category	Third Rate	NNF-1715
National Rate	Second Rang	NNF-1715
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	NNF-1715
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	NNF-1715
Disarmed	1.1802	NNF-1715

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1715
Length of Gundeck150'French Feet (Pied du Roi)48.72 (159′ 10″ Imperial)
Length of Keel135'French Feet (Pied du Roi)43.8519 (143′ 10″ Imperial)
Breadth40' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)13.1544 (43′ 1″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold20'French Feet (Pied du Roi)6.496 (21′ 3″ Imperial)
Burthen1,200Ton

Armament

5.1793Broadside Weight = 249.5 French Livre (269.2604 lbs 122.1304 kg)NNF-1715
Gun Deck12 French 36-Pounder
Gun Deck4 French 16-Pound Obusier
Gun Deck6 French Pierrier
Gun Deck2 French 12" Mortar

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1778Capitaine de Vaisseauref:6311782 - 1783Capitaine de VaisseauE-WIKI

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1778Lieutenant de VaisseauFWIKI

Service History

DateEventSource
27.7.17781st Battle of Ushant
6.7.1779Battle of Grenada
17.4.1780Battle of Martinique
16.4.1781Battle of Porto Praya
17.2.1782Battle of Sadras
12.4.1782Battle of Providien
6.6.1782Took the Armed Troopship off the East coast of India
9.6.1782Took the Sloop off Negapatam
10.6.1782Took the Survey Vessel off Negapatam
6.7.17822nd Battle of Negapatam
3.9.1782Battle of Trincomalee
20.6.17832nd Battle of Cuddalore
1784

Refitted

FWAS1786
5.1793Refitted as a 18 gun Unrated Floating Battery

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

E-WIKIVarious, Web Site

FWAS1786Stephen S. Roberts, Rif Winfield, Book

FWIKIVarious, Web Site

NNF-1715Alain Demerliac, Book

NNF-1774Alain Demerliac, Book

ref:631 Web Site

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jacques Valat on Sunday 27th of September 2015 21:39

1781/04/18 is involved in battle of Port Praya

Posted by Tim Oakley on Sunday 10th of June 2012 22:47

17 Apr 1780 Sphinx at battle of Martinique "ref Wikipedia"

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Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Monday 15th of June 2026 19:02	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate ship 'Eurydice' (1781) (24) 1781-1834 British 24 Gun 6th Rate Ship
Monday 15th of June 2026 18:59	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Topaze' (1793) (32) 1793-1814 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 15th of June 2026 18:51	Jon Miller	British cutter 'Lively' (1784) (Unknown) 1784-1784 British Unknown Gun Unrated Cutter
Monday 15th of June 2026 18:48	Jon Miller	French Privateer 'La Manche' (1800) (20) 1800-1800 French 20 Gun Privateer Unknown
Monday 15th of June 2026 18:44	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate ship 'Eurydice' (1781) (24) 1781-1834 British 24 Gun 6th Rate Ship

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