French ship République française (1802)

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Majestueux and French ship République française.

The République française was a first-rate 118-gun Océan-class ship of the line built for the French Navy during the first decade of the 19th century. Renamed Majestueux in 1803, the ship was completed that same year. She played a small role during the Napoleonic Wars and was scrapped in 1839.

1/48 scale model of the Océan class 120-gun ship of the line Commerce de Marseille. On display at Marseille naval museum.
History
France
Namesake	French Republic
Builder	Pierre Rolland, Rochefort Dyd
Laid down	March 1794
Launched	18 April 1802
Completed	August 1803
Fate	Scrapped 1839
General characteristics
Class & type	Océan-class ship of the line
Displacement	5,098 t (5,017 long tons)
Tons burthen	2,794–2,930 tonnes
Length	63.83 m (209 ft 5 in) (gun deck)
Beam	16.24 m (53 ft 3 in)
Draught	8.15 m (26 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	sail, 3,250 m2 (35,000 sq ft)
Sail plan	full-rigged ship
Complement	1,117
Armament	Lower gun deck:: 32 × 36 pdr guns Middle gun deck: 34 × 24 pdr guns Upper gun deck: 34 × 12 pdr guns Forecastle & quarterdeck: 18 × 8 pdr guns + 6 × 36 pdr obusiers

Description

The Océan-class ships had a length of 63.83 metres (209 ft 5 in) at the gun deck a beam of 16.24 metres (53 ft 3 in) and a depth of hold of 8.12 metres (26 ft 8 in). The ships displaced 5,095 tonnes (5,015 long tons) and had a mean draught of 8.15 metres (26 ft 9 in). They had a tonnage of 2,794–2,930 tons burthen. Their crew numbered 1,117 officers and ratings. They were fitted with three masts and ship rigged with a sail area of 3,250 square metres (35,000 sq ft).^[1]

The muzzle-loading, smoothbore armament of the Océan class consisted of thirty-two 36-pounder long guns on the lower gun deck, thirty-four 24-pounder long guns on the middle gun deck and on the upper gundeck were thirty-four 12-pounder long guns. On the quarterdeck and forecastle were a total of eighteen 8-pounder long guns and six 30-pounder obusiers.^[2]

Career

Le Majestueux at the burning of Rousseau on 22 February 1805^[3]

République Française was laid down at the Arsenal de Rochefort on 23 March 1794, although construction soon stopped. It was resumed on 22 March 1800 by Entreprise Destouches and the ship was launched on 18 April 1802. She was renamed Majestueux on 5 February 1802, commissioned on 1 August 1803 and completed later that month.^[2]

The ship took part in Allemand's expedition of 1805.^[4] She was stricken from the navy list on 26 January 1839, decommissioned on 11 April and subsequently broken up.^[2]