French ship Aigle (1800) facts for kids
Drawing of the main features of Aigle
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 France |
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| Name | Aigle |
| Namesake | Eagle |
| Builder | Rochefort |
| Laid down | 1794 |
| Launched | 6 July 1800 |
| Captured |
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| Fate | Wrecked 23 October 1805 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Téméraire-class ship of the line |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 55.87 metres (183.3 ft) (172 pied) |
| Beam | 14.90 metres (48 ft 11 in) |
| Draught | 7.26 metres (23.8 ft) (22 pied) |
| Propulsion | Up to 2,485 m2 (26,750 sq ft) of sails |
| Armament |
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| Armour | Timber |
The Aigle was a large French warship built in 1800. It had 74 guns and was known as a 'ship of the line'. These ships were the biggest and strongest warships of their time. They formed the main battle line in naval fights. Aigle was built in a place called Rochefort, in France.
Contents
Aigle: A French Warship
Aigle means "Eagle" in French. It was a powerful ship designed for naval battles. Its main purpose was to fight other large warships. The ship was made mostly of timber. It used many sails to move across the ocean.
Journey to the West Indies
In 1805, Aigle sailed far away to the West Indies. This journey was part of a bigger plan. There, it joined a large French fleet. This fleet was led by a high-ranking officer named Vice-Admiral Villeneuve. They were preparing for important naval operations.
The Battle of Trafalgar
In October 1805, Aigle took part in a very famous sea battle. This battle was called the Battle of Trafalgar. It was a huge fight between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of France and Spain. During the battle, British sailors from HMS Defiance managed to board Aigle. They took control of the ship.
Captured and Lost
But the story of Aigle didn't end there. The very next day, the French crew fought back! They managed to take their ship Aigle back from the British sailors. However, their victory was short-lived. A huge storm hit the area on October 23, 1805. The Aigle was badly damaged and destroyed by the storm. It was wrecked and lost at sea.
See also
- List of ships captured in the 19th century
- List of ships of the line of France
