Saint-Louis (54)
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Origin and History
This ship of the line was built by Nicolas Leveque at Lorient and launched in 1752. She belonged to the Compagnie des Indes, not to the Marine Royale.
On February 4 1753, the ship was commissioned at Lorient for a voyage to Pondicherry from which she returned on January 22 1755.
During the Seven Years' War, the ship was under the command of:
- since February 4 1753: captain Louis de Joannis
- from March 31 1756: captain Camille L’Avocat de La Crochais
- from December 30 1756 until December 20 1760: captain Louis de Joannis
The ship was stricken off of the fleet in 1783.
Service during the War
On March 31 1756, the ship was commissioned at Lorient for service in the East Indies. However, she was decommissioned on June 12. On December 30, she was commissioned again for service in the East Indies.
On January 27 1758, the ship was part of d'Aché's squadron which sailed from Isle de France and made for the coast of Coromandel in India, transporting reinforcements under the command of Lally. Owing to the monsoon, it was much delayed. On April 28, the squadron arrived at daybreak into the roadstead of Fort St. David. The French squadron cut off the escape of the Bridgewater (24) and Triton (24) which were lying there, and which, to save them from capture, were run ashore and burnt. On April 29, while Lally was disembarking his troops at Pondicherry (actual Puducherry), the ship (carrying only 50 guns) was part of d'Aché's squadron who fought at the combat of Cuddalore where she engaged the Cumberland (66). On August 3, when Pocock made another attempt to dislodge the French squadron from Pondicherry, the ship took part to the combat of Negapatam. On October 17, the ship arrived at Isle de France.
On September 10 1759, the ship took part in the battle of Pondicherry.
On December 12 1760, the ship was decommissioned at Isle de France.
To do: details of the campaigns from 1759 to 1761
Characteristics
| Guns | 54
| ||||||||
| Crew | 241 | ||||||||
| Length at gundeck | n/a | ||||||||
| Width | n/a | ||||||||
| Depth | n/a | ||||||||
| Displacement | 1100 tons (998 metric tons) |
References
Blasco, Manuel, Ship of the Compagnie des Indes, 3 Decks Wiki
Service historique de la Défense, Les mouvements au long cours des navires de la deuxième Compagnie française des Indes orientales
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
