French ship Montebello (1812)

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Montebello.
Montebello circa 1850
History
French Navy Ensign French Navy Ensign French Navy EnsignFrance
NamesakeBattle of Montebello
Laid down1810
Launched6 December 1812
FateScrapped, 1889
General characteristics (as built)
Class & typeOcéan-class ship of the line
Displacement5,095 t (5,015 long tons)
Tons burthen2,794–2,930 (bm)
Length63.83 m (209 ft 5 in) (gun deck)
Beam16.4 m (53 ft 10 in)
Draught8.14 m (26 ft 8 in)
Propulsionsail, 3,250 m2 (35,000 sq ft)
Sail planfull-rigged ship
Complement1,130
Armament

Montebello was a first-rate 118-gun Océan-class ship of the line built for the French Navy during the 1810s. Completed in 1813, the ship did not play a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars. She was converted to steam in 1851–1852 and participated in the Crimean War of 1854–1855.

Description

The later Océan-class ships had a length of 63.83 metres (209 ft 5 in) at the gun deck a beam of 16.4 metres (53 ft 10 in) and a depth of hold of 8.12 metres (26 ft 8 in). The ships displaced 5,095 tonnes (5,015 long tons) and had a mean draught of 8.14 metres (26 ft 8 in). They had a tonnage of 2,794–2,930 tons burthen. Their crew numbered 1,130 officers and ratings. They were fitted with three masts and ship rigged with a sail area of 3,250 square metres (35,000 sq ft).[1]

The muzzle-loading, smoothbore armament of the Océan class consisted of thirty-two 36-pounder long guns on the lower gun deck, thirty-four 24-pounder long guns on the middle gun deck and on the upper gundeck were thirty-four 18-pounder long guns. On the quarterdeck and forecastle were a total of fourteen 8-pounder long guns and a dozen 36-pounder carronades.[2]

Career

Portrait of Montebello, by François Roux

Montebello was ordered in 1810 and was laid down at the Arsenal de Toulon in October of that year. The ship was launched on 6 December 1812, commissioned on 1 July 1813 and completed the following month.[3]

On 31 October 1836, she was driven ashore at the Grosse Tour, Toulon. She was subsequently refloated.[4]

On 5 March 1855 she took part in the Siege of Sevastopol, then in the expedition to Kerch and in the Battle of Kinburn. In 1860, Montebello replaced Suffren at Toulon as a school-ship for gunnery, and in 1867, she was used as a floating barracks. She was scrapped in 1889.[5]

Citations

  1. ^ Winfield & Roberts, pp. 44, 46–47
  2. ^ Winfield & Roberts, p. 47
  3. ^ Winfield, p. 48
  4. ^ "The Weather in France". The Times. No. 16257. London. 10 November 1836. col C, p. 7.
  5. ^ Roche, p. 314

References

  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours 1 1671–1870. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
  • Winfield, Rif and Roberts, Stephen S. (2015) French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-204-2
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