Sans-Pareil-class ship of the line

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Sans Pareil.

Sans Pareil ("Peerless") was a ship of the line project presented to Louis XV between 1757 and 1760. No actual ship of this type bore the name in the French Navy, though Royal Louis was built on the scheme.

1/28.8th model of Sans Pareil now kept at the Musée de la Marine in Paris
Class overview
Name	Sans Pareil
Operators	French Navy
Planned	Océan, Médiateur, Majestueux, Indomptable
Completed	1
General characteristics
Type	Ship of the line
Armament	116 guns

Design

Sans Pareil was a project to build a series of ships taking into account new improvements in ship design. The name was suggested twice to Louis XV; in 1751, the king preferred Océan, and in 1757, Royal Louis, Médiateur, Majestueux, and Indomptable.^[1] Only Royal Louis was actually built; due to the huge costs of construction, the three others were replaced with smaller-sized ships of the line.

Sans Pareil only existed as a 1⁄1/30th model which is now kept at the Musée de la Marine in Paris. It is very likely to offer only very minor differences to what Royal Louis was like when she was launched at Brest in 1759.^[2]

The figurehead featured a lion. The ornaments of the aft were simplified, integrating the overall lines and structure of the ship.^[2]