The Hercule class was a late type of 100-gun ships of the line of the French Navy. They were the second strongest of four ranks of ships of the line designed by the Commission de Paris. While the first units were classical straight-walled ships of the line, next ones were gradually converted to steam, and the last one was built with an engine.
Design The Hercule class evolved as an enlargement of the straight-walled, 90-gun , suggested by Jean Tupinier.
With the Henri IV, a rounded stern was introduced. The next ships were built with the rounded stern, and it was retrofitted on the early units of the class.
Units
Builder: Begun: Launched: Completed: Fate:
Builder: Begun: Launched: Completed: Fate:
Builder: Begun: Launched: Completed: Fate:
Builder:Cherbourg Begun:1829 Launched:1848 Completed:1850 Fate: Bombardment of Odessa (1854). Lost in a storm at Eupatoria in the Crimea (14.11.1854)
Builder: Begun: Launched: Completed: Fate:
Builder: Begun: Launched: Completed: Fate:
Annibal, renamed Prince JérômeLoire (ex-Hoche, ex-Prince Jérôme, ex-Annibal) Builder: Begun: Launched: Completed: Fate:
Builder: Begun: Launched: Completed: Fate:
Builder: Begun: Launched: Completed: Fate:
, Lys renamed 1830 Builder:Rochefort Begun:1825 Launched: Completed: Fate: Bombardment at Kinburn (1855)
, Bucentaure renamed 1839 Builder:Lorient Begun:1833 Launched: Completed: Fate: Bombardment at Kinburn (1855)
Builder: Begun: Launched: Completed: Fate:
Builder: Begun: Launched: Completed: Fate:
Notes and references References
Bibliography