French ship Algésiras (1804) facts for kids
Scale model of Achille, sister ship of French ship Algésiras (1804), on display at the Musée national de la Marine in Paris.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 France |
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| Name | Algésiras |
| Namesake | Battle of Algeciras |
| Builder | Lorient |
| Laid down | 1804 |
| Launched | 8 July 1804 |
| Captured |
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 Spain |
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| Name | Algeciras |
| Captured | 14 June 1808 |
| Fate | Broken up in 1826 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Téméraire-class ship of the line |
| Displacement | 2,900 tonnes |
| Length | 55.87 m (183 ft 4 in) (172 French feet) |
| Beam | 14.90 m (48 ft 11 in) (44' 6") |
| Draught | 7.26 m (23 ft 10 in) (22 French feet) |
| Propulsion | Up to 2485 m² of sails |
| Complement | 3 officers + 690 men |
| Armament |
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| Armour | Timber |
The Algésiras was a powerful French warship built in 1804. It was a Téméraire-class ship of the line, meaning it was a large sailing ship designed for naval battles. This ship had 74 guns and was named after the Battle of Algeciras. It was built in a place called Lorient in France.
Contents
Journey to the West Indies
In 1805, the Algésiras set sail for the West Indies. This was a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. It traveled with another French ship called Aigle. Together, they joined a larger French fleet. This fleet was led by Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve.
Battle of Trafalgar
Fighting in the Battle
In October 1805, the Algésiras took part in the famous Battle of Trafalgar. This was a huge naval battle between the French and Spanish fleets against the British Royal Navy. The Algésiras was under the command of Rear Admiral Charles Magon.
During the battle, the Algésiras faced a British ship called HMS Tonnant. The two ships fought very closely. Rear Admiral Magon tried to have his crew board the Tonnant. This meant his sailors would try to climb onto the enemy ship to fight hand-to-hand.
A Fierce Fight
However, the British fired so many shots that almost all of the French boarding party were killed. Only one person survived and was taken prisoner. Rear Admiral Magon himself was also killed during this intense fight.
The battle between Algésiras and Tonnant lasted for about an hour. The Tonnant used its guns on one side to fight Algésiras. At the same time, its guns on the other side were fighting another French ship, Pluton. Its front guns were aimed at the Spanish ship San Juan Nepomuceno.
Finally, around 2:30 PM, the Algésiras had to surrender to the Tonnant. This meant the British had captured the ship.
Recaptured and Captured Again
A Daring Escape
After the Battle of Trafalgar, a big storm hit the area. While the storm raged, the French crew on the Algésiras had a daring plan. They rose up against the British sailors who were guarding the ship. They managed to take back control of their ship!
The Algésiras then sailed to Cádiz, a city in Spain. When it arrived, it was flying French flags again.
Final Capture
However, the ship's journey wasn't over. On June 14, 1808, the Algésiras was captured again. This time, it was taken by the Spanish navy. All the other French ships that were in Cádiz at that time were also captured by the Spanish. The Algésiras was eventually broken up in 1826.
See also
- List of ships captured in the 19th century
