French ship Annibal (1778) facts for kids
Achille (left) being dismasted by HMS Brunswick at the Glorious First of June
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Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small}  France |
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| Name | Annibal |
| Builder | Brest |
| Laid down | December 1777 |
| Launched | 5 October 1778 |
| In service | January 1779 |
| Renamed | Achille, 1786 |
| Captured | 1 June 1794 by Royal Navy |
.svg){kind=small} Great Britain |
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| Name | Achille |
| Commissioned | never commissioned |
| Fate | Broken up, 1796 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Annibal-class ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1500 tonnes |
| Length | 54.7 m (179 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 14.3 m (46 ft 11 in) |
| Draught | 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Armament | 74 guns of various weights of shot |
Annibal was a powerful French warship, known as a 74-gun ship of the line. This means it was a large sailing ship with 74 cannons, built for fighting in naval battles. It was the first ship of its kind in the Annibal class, designed by a famous ship designer named Jacques-Noël Sané. Annibal was built in Brest, France, in 1778.
Contents
A Ship's Journey: From Annibal to Achille
Annibal had an exciting career, sailing to different parts of the world to fight in important battles.
Battles in the West Indies
First, Annibal sailed to the West Indies, which are islands in the Caribbean Sea. It took part in the Battle of Grenada. Later, in December 1779, during the Battle of Martinique, Annibal showed incredible bravery. It faced seven enemy warships all by itself to protect a group of friendly ships. Amazingly, no one on Annibal was killed during this tough fight. Annibal also fought in another battle on March 20, 1780.
Adventures in the East Indies
After its time in the West Indies, Annibal was sent to the East Indies, a region that includes parts of Asia. At the Battle of Porto Praya, its captain, Achille de Trémigon, was sadly killed by a cannonball. After this, a new captain, Bernard Boudin de Tromelin, took command.
Annibal continued to fight in many important battles in the East Indies. These included the Sadras, Providien, Negapatam, and Trincomalee in 1782. The next year, it fought in the Battle of Cuddalore.
A New Name: Achille
In 1786, Annibal was given a new name: Achille. This was done to avoid confusion with another ship called Petit Annibal.
Capture and Final Days
Achille served with the French Navy until 1794. During the Glorious First of June battle, it was captured by the Royal Navy (the British navy). The British renamed it HMS Achille, keeping the French spelling. However, the ship was in very bad condition after the battle. It was taken to Plymouth, England, and taken apart in 1796, just two years after its capture.
