French ship Protée (1772)
 Plans of the ship
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} France | |
| Name | Protée |
| Launched | 1772 |
| Captured | 24 February 1780, by Royal Navy |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Prothee |
| Acquired | 24 February 1780 |
| Fate | Broken up, 1815 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class and type | Template:Sclass- |
| Tons burthen | 1480 tons (1503.7 tonnes) |
| Length | 164 ft 1 in (50.01 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 44 ft 7 in (13.59 m) |
| Depth of hold | 19 ft (5.8 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full rigged ship |
| Armament | 64 guns of various weights of shot |
Protée was an Template:Sclass- 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1772.[1]
Career
On 16 February 1780, Protée departed Lorient escorting a convoy bound for India, with troops and ammunition.[2] Protée, under Captain Duchilleau de Laroche was the flagship of the convoy.[3]
On 23 February, off Spain, the convoy met Rodney's fleet. Hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned, Protée struck while Charmante returned to Lorient,[3] arriving there on 3 March.[4] Three merchantmen were also captured. Court-martialled for the loss of his ship, Duchilleau was honourably acquitted.[3]
Protée was commissioned in the Royal Navy as the third rate HMS Prothee. She was converted to serve as a prison ship in 1799, and broken up in 1815. Eight of her small cannons were purchased by John Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland and are currently at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire. The cannon are still fired on special occasions, such as weddings and the Duke's birthday.
Notes
References
- Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922. (1671-1870)
- Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé.
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