Opiniâtre (64)
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Origin and History
The ship was built at Brest and launched in 1750.
During the Seven Years' War, the ship was under the command of:
- from 1755 to end of 1757: M. de Moëlien (a.k.a. Moliau)
The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at the end of 1757.
Service during the War
In 1755, the ship took part to the expedition to reinforce Canada. For this campaign, she was armed as a "flute", her armament being reduced to 22 guns. She transported 9 companies of Béarn Infanterie.
In October 1757, the ship was part of a French squadron under the command of captain Kersaint. This squadron had been sent from Africa to Cap-François (actual Cap-Haïtien) to escort a convoy of French ships to France. On October 21, Kersaint's squadron engaged a British squadron in the combat of Cap-François. The British ships were so badly damaged that they had to return to Jamaica for repair. Kersaint quickly repaired his ships and, seizing this opportunity, set sail for France with the French convoy. At the very end of this voyage, the French fleet met with a severe storm and the Opiniâtre was driven ashore and wrecked.
Characteristics
| Guns | 64
| ||||||
| Crew | approx. 500 men | ||||||
| Length | 150 ft (48.72 m) French feet | ||||||
| Width | 40 ft 4 in (13.10 m) | ||||||
| Depth | 20 ft 9 in (6.74 m) | ||||||
| Displacement | 1,100 tons |
References
Blasco, Manuel, French 4th Rates, 3 Decks Wiki
Castex, Jean-Claude, Dictionnaire des batailles terrestres franco-anglaises de la Guerre de Sept Ans, Presse de l'université Laval, Québec: 2006, pp. 42-45
Clowes, Wm. Laird, The Royal Navy – A History from the Earliest Time to the Present, Vol. III, Sampson Low, Marston and Company, London: 1898, pp. 164-166
Vial J. L., Nec Pluribus Impar
