HMS Invincible (1747) facts for kids
Invincible
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Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} France |
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| Name | Invincible |
| Builder | Rochefort |
| Laid down | May 1741 |
| Launched | 21 October 1744 |
| Captured | 3 May 1747, by Royal Navy |
| Notes |
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.svg){kind=small} Great Britain |
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| Name | HMS Invincible |
| Acquired | 3 May 1747 |
| Fate | Wrecked, 1758 |
| General characteristics (as re-measured by the British following her capture) | |
| Tons burthen | 1,793 tons |
| Length | 171 ft 3 in (52.20 m) (gun deck length) |
| Beam | 49 ft 3 in (15.01 m) |
| Depth of hold | 21 ft 3 in (6.48 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Armament | 74 guns of various weights of shot |
The Invincible was a powerful warship. It was a 74-gun ship of the line built for the French Navy. It was launched in October 1744. In 1747, the British Navy captured it. They renamed it HMS Invincible. Sadly, the ship sank in 1758 after hitting a sandbank. Today, its wreck is a special protected site. Historic England helps to look after it.
Contents
How Invincible Was Designed
In the early 1700s, French ship designers were very creative. They made many new and improved ship designs. British ship designs, however, did not change much.
When the British captured Invincible, they didn't have any 74-gun ships like it. By 1805, these 74-gun ships became super important. They were the main warships for many navies around the world.
Invincible was one of the first of a new, longer type of 74-gun ship. Before 1738, French 74-gun ships were shorter. They had fewer large guns.
A designer named François Coulomb changed this. His ship, Le Terrible, was launched in 1739. It was longer and had more powerful guns. Invincible, designed by Pierre Morineau, was even longer. It was built in 1741.
Invincible's Adventures at Sea
The Battle of Cape Finisterre
In 1747, the Invincible was sailing with a group of merchant ships. They were part of a convoy during the War of the Austrian Succession. A large British fleet of 16 warships spotted them. The British ships started to chase them.
The Invincible bravely attacked the British ships. It fought six British warships all by itself. This gave the merchant ships a chance to escape. In the end, many of Invincible's crew were hurt or killed. The ship had to surrender. The French commander, Saint-Georges, gave his sword to British Admiral George Anson. This showed respect even in defeat.
The Ship's Final Journey
HMS Invincible sank in February 1758. It hit a sandbank in the East Solent. The ship stayed upright for three days after it got stuck. This allowed all the crew members to escape safely.
Discovering the Wreck Site
What We've Found So Far
A fisherman found the wreck site in 1979. It was made a protected site in 1980. This means it's against the law to disturb it. In 2013, the wreck was put on a list of sites at risk. This was because parts of the ship were becoming exposed.
In 2016, a lot of money was given to help explore the wreck. This money came from fines from a banking scandal. Experts have been working to dig up and study the wreck. They use special tools like photogrammetry to map the site.
In 2019, the BBC showed some of the amazing things found at the site. Over 2,000 items have been discovered! These include parts of the ship's hull. They also found everyday items like tobacco pipes and ceramic hair curlers. These items were planned to be shown to the public in 2020. They will be part of a traveling exhibition. You can see them at places like Chatham Dockyard.
Images for kids
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Invincible after her capture.
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Invincible, of 74 Guns, one of the six French men of war taken 3 May 1747 by the British Fleet. Drawn by Richard Short, engraved by John Boydell
