For other ships of the same name, see French ship Soleil-Royal.
| French ship Soleil-Royal (1749) | |
|---|---|
 The Soleil Royal (right) battling the Royal George during the battle of Quiberon Bay. Nicholas Pocock, 1812. National Maritime Museum | |
| Career (France) |  |
| Namesake: | "Royal Sun" |
| Builder: | Brest |
| Laid down: | March 1748 |
| Launched: | 30 June 1749 |
| Commissioned: | April 1750 |
| Homeport: | Brest |
| Fate: | Scuttled on 21 November 1759 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 3800 tonnes |
| Length: | 59.2 m |
| Beam: | 15.6 m |
| Draught: | 7.6 m |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Complement: | 1000 men, 14 officers |
| Armament: |
80 gun: |
The Soleil-Royal was a ship in the French navy, the third ship of that name. She was the first 80-gun two-decker to use the 24-pounder long gun on her second battery, giving her a considerable firepower for the time and allowing her to challenge three-deckers. Her name Soleil-Royal, honouring the French crown and usually reserved for the largest units of the Navy, testifies of the change of focus from large three-deckers onto strong two-deckers.[1]
She was Brienne's flagship at the battle of Quiberon Bay, where she ran aground and was burnt to prevent her capture.
Sources and references[]
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours 1 1671 - 1870. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
The original article can be found at French ship Soleil-Royal (1749) and the edit history here.