Invincible was a first-rate ship of the line of the French Royal Navy.
Built on plans by Francois Guillaume Clairin Deslauriers at Rochefort as part of the French naval mobilisation for the American War of Independence, she was a sister-ship of Royal Louis.
She was built within 13 month and completed in May 1780.
American War of Independence In 1781, stationed in the Antilles, she picked a British convoy. In 1782 she was ordered to Gibraltar, in Lamotte-Picquet's squadron. (Comte de la Motte was her captain April 1781–April 1783). She took part in the Battle of Cape Spartel, where she attacked the rear of the British squadron.
She was refitted several time (1781, 1784 and 1795) until her career came to an end in 1807 when she was disarmed and finally broken up in 1808 at Brest. Her replacement was the Commerce de Marseille of 118 guns.
Armament Armament 1780 Broadside Weight = 1104 French Livre (1191.4368 lbs 540.408 kg) Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-Pounder Middle Gun Deck: 32x French 24-Pounder Upper Gun Deck: 30x French 12-Pounder
Armament 1781 Broadside Weight = 1136 French Livre (1225.9712 lbs 556.072 kg) Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-Pounder Middle Gun Deck: 32x French 24-pound Carronade Upper Gun Deck: 30x French 12-Pounder Quarterdeck/Forecastle: 8x French 8-Pounder
Armament 1784 Broadside Weight = 1168 French Livre (1260.5056 lbs 571.736 kg) Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-Pounder Middle Gun Deck:32x French 24-Pounder Upper Gun Deck:30x French 12-Pounder Quarterdeck/Forecastle:16x French 8-Pounder
Armament 1795 Broadside Weight = 1252 French Livre (1351.1584 lbs 612.854 kg) Lower Gun Deck: 30x French 36-Pounder Middle Gun Deck: 32x French 24-Pounder Upper Gun Deck:32x French 12-Pounder Quarterdeck/Forecastle: 4x French 36-Pounder Obusier Quarterdeck/Forecastle1: 6x French 8-Pounder
References
Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1774 à 1792, Alain Demerliac French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861, Rif Winfiled & Stephen S. Roberts
External links Invincible 1780 at Threedecks.org French site - Vaisseaux de ligne francais de 1682 a 1780 French site - Troisponts.net