French ship Scipion (1778) facts for kids
Scipion raking HMS London during the action of 18 October 1782.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | Scipion |
| Launched | 17 September 1778 |
| Honours and awards |
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| Fate | Ran aground 1782 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Scipion-class ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1,500 tonnes |
| Length | 53.8 m (177 ft) |
| Beam | 14.1 m (46 ft) |
| Draught | 7.3 m (24 ft) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Armament | 74 to 78 guns of various weights of shot |
The Scipion was a powerful French warship from the 1700s. It was the first ship of its kind, known as a Scipion-class ship of the line. This type of ship was a large, heavily armed sailing vessel. Scipion was finished and ready for action in 1779.
Contents
Building the Scipion
When Scipion was first built, it had a big problem. It was too "top-heavy," meaning it was unstable and almost tipped over! Two other French ships, Hercule and Pluton, had similar issues.
To fix Scipion's problem, the builders tried a few things. They changed how things were stored inside the ship. They also replaced some of the water used for balance with heavier material called ballast. But these fixes didn't work well enough. In the end, the French had to make the ship's mast shorter. This helped make Scipion stable and safe to sail.
Scipion in Battle
Scipion played an important role in the American War of Independence. This was a big conflict where the American colonies fought for their freedom from Great Britain.
Battle of the Chesapeake
In 1781, Scipion was part of the French fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake. This battle was very important because it helped the American and French forces trap the British army at Yorktown. Scipion sailed at the back of the French group of ships during this key naval fight.
A Brave Fight in 1782
On October 18, 1782, Scipion faced a tough challenge. Under the command of Captain Nicolas Henri de Grimouard, it fought bravely against two larger British warships. These British ships had 90 and 74 cannons, while Scipion had fewer.
Despite being outnumbered, Scipion used its excellent sailing skills to its advantage. It managed to damage one of the British ships, the London|1766|6, and then escaped.
The End of Scipion
Sadly, Scipion's story ended the very next day. After its brave fight, the British ships chased it. Scipion ran aground, meaning it got stuck on the seabed near the shore. Because it was stuck and couldn't move, the ship was destroyed.
