Scipio (1779) – Wikipedia

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For homonymous articles, see Scipio.

The Scipon is a line vessel of 74 cannons of the French royal navy. His plans are from the Engineer Clairin Deslauriers. Builded in early 1778, he was launched in Rochefort le . The speed of its construction is due to the naval mobilization which corresponds to the entry of France into the American war of independence. It served during the United States War of Independence, a conflict which saw its loss in 1782.

The Scipon is a voter vessel of 74 cannons launched according to the standards defined in the 1740s by French manufacturers to obtain a good cost/maneuverability/armament ratio in order to stand up to the English navy which has many more vessels [ 4 ] . Without being standardized, the Scipon , share the common characteristics of all the “74 cannons” built at dozens of copies until the start of XIX It is century and which evolve to the slow rhythm of construction techniques of the time and the will of naval officials to make the most of this excellent category of warship [ 5 ] .

As with all the war vessels of the time, his shell was in oak. Its rigging, (masts and yards) is in pine [ 6 ] . There is also elm, linden, poplar and walnut for the sharpeners of cannons, sculptures of fellows and interior joinery [ 6 ] . The ropes ( 80 tonnes ) and the sails (about 2,500 m 2 ) are in hemp [ 6 ] . A second game of emergency sails is stored in the hold. Scheduled to be able to operate for weeks very far from its European bases if necessary, its transport capacities are considerable [ 5 ] . He wins for three months of water consumption, supplemented by six months of wine [ 7 ] . Added to it for five to six months of food, i.e. dozens of tonnes of cookies, flour, pulses and fresh vegetables, meat and salted fish, cheese, oil, vinegar, salt, without counting on foot that will be shot down Fur and when the countryside [ 8 ] .

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It has on its lower deck of 28 guns 36 pounds (the biggest calibers in service in the fleet at that time) and 30 guns 18 pounds on its upper deck. Besides, 16 guns 8 pounds are spread over the fellows. This iron artillery weighs 215 tonnes [ 6 ] . When it pulls, it can deliver a border weighing 838 pounds (about 410 kg) and the double if the ship fires simultaneously on both sides [ 9 ] . The ship has nearly 6,000 heavy balls in total 67 tonnes [ ten ] . Added rowed, chained balls and a lot of machine gun (8 tonnes) [ 6 ] . There is 20 tonnes black powder, stored in the form of Gargosa or in bulk in the depths of the ship [ 11 ] . On average, each barrel has 50 to 60 balls [ twelfth ] .

In 1779, he returned from Santo Domingo accompanied by French and Spanish vessels and the French frigate the supervisor and wet in Brest

In , he is part of the Count of Grasse’s squadron who leaves Brest, accompanying a large convoy for the Antilles. He is commissioned by Captain Clavel. He is engaged in the battle of Fort-Royal, the , which makes it possible to lift the siege of Martinique. That same year, still in the Grasse squadron, he went to North America and fights at the Battle of Chesapeake Bay. THE Scipon is at the back of the French battle line.

In 1782, he did not participate in the Battle of the Saintes but was valiantly combated on October 17 of that same year, under the orders of Captain Nicolas Henri de Grimouard, against two English lines the HMS London and the Torbay , respectively 90 and 74 cannons. By the skillful maneuvers of his captain, the Scipon manages to position oneself favorably and to inflict significant damage to the HMS London Before fleeing. But the British do not let him escape. The next day, when he is still prosecuted, the Scipon is the victim of a sea fortune: he struck an unknown rock in Samaná bay (in the current Dominican Republic), and flows. THE Scipon is one of the twenty line vessels lost by the royal navy during the American war of independence [ 13 ] . Its wreck has been located recently [When ?] [ 14 ] .

  1. ↑ In French line vessels from 1682 to 1780 , “2. From the second row”, Ronald Deschênes.
  2. ↑ The usual ratio, on all types of war vessel in XVIII It is century is an average of 10 men per cannon, whatever the function of each on board. This is how a 100 cannons takes 1,000 crew men, an 80 cannons 800 men, a 74 cannons 740, a 64 cannons 640, etc. The staff is in addition. This regulatory workforce can however vary considerably in the event of an epidemic, a loss in combat or from lack of sailors on boarding. Acerra and Zysberg 1997, p. 220.
  3. ↑ At French, 0.3248394 meter. French line vessels from 1682 to 1780 , “2. From the second row”, Ronald Deschênes.
  4. ↑ Meyer and sharp 1994; p. 90-91.
  5. ↑ a et b Jacques Gay in Vergé-Franceschi 2002, p. 1486-1487 and Jean Meyer in Vergé-Framanceschi 2002, p. 1031-1034.
  6. ↑ A B C D and E Harry and Zyseberg 1997; p. 107 to 119.
  7. ↑ 210 000 liters of fresh water. 101 000 liters of red wine, one liter per day and per man. The wine largely completes the water that is rush in the barrels after a few weeks. Jacques Gay in Vergé-Framanceschi 2002, p. 1486-1487
  8. ↑ Sheep (six per month for 100 men), poultry (one hen per month for seven men, also with turkeys, pigeons, ducks), Jacques Gay in Vergé-Frenaleschi 2002, p. 1486-1487.
  9. ↑ According to time standards, the ship, fighting in line, only pulls on one side. He only pulls on both sides if he is surrounded or if he seeks to cross the enemy device, which is rare. Calculation base: 1 book = 0.489 kg.
  10. ↑ In detail: 2,240 projectiles of 36 pounds , 2,400 of 18 pounds And 1,280 of 8 pounds . Harry and Zyseberg 1997; p. 216.
  11. ↑ On average: a quarter of the powder is put into gargousse in advance for the needs of the low battery, that of the largest cannons at the caliber of 36 pounds , and a third for the parts of the second bridge and the fellows. Acerra and Zysberg 1997, p. 216
  12. ↑ Harry and Zyseberg 1997; p. 48
  13. ↑ From 1778 to 1783, ten vessels caught in combat, six destroyed or shipwrecked vessels, four buried vessels 1867, p. 244.
  14. ↑ Size 2002, p. 225.
  • (in) This article is partially or entirely from the Wikipedia article in English entitled ‘ French ship Scipion (1779) » ( See the list of authors ) .
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