Short list of losses of the French Navy since the 13th century

Some famous losses of the French Navy
(1270 - 1900)

by Pascal Kainic

When lost

Name of the Vessel & Commander

Where lost

How lost

1270	Saint Louis' squadron from which 18 nefs Knight of Anjou	Sicily	Part of the squadron was destroyed at Trapani, bringing back French troops which failed at Tunis, after Saint Louis' death
1380	Corvette Sibylle, Gilbert de Fretun	English Channel	Lost on a rock with all souls after an heroic fight against several English vessels
1533	Ship of the line (SOL) Philippe, Adm. Annebaut	The Havre roads	Accidental fire. The King François 1er, on board for inspection, is saved.
1565	3 nefs of war, Jean Ribaut	Florida	After being shipwrecked, a thousand of soldiers and crewmen are slaughtered by the Spaniards despite all rules of war
1625	SOL, La Vierge, Cdr. de Launay	La Rochelle	Protestant attacked by 4 catholic ships. Explosion together.
1641	SOL, Le Lion, Cdr. de Montade	Naples	Burnt down in the battle, after taking the Admiral ship of the ennemies
1642	SOL, Le Galion de Guise, Adm. de Cancé	Barcelona	Accidentally burnt down after the battle
1662	Fleur de Lis, 400 tons, 30 cannons	Chef de Baye	Lost on Verdin Rocks
1664	Tigre, 400 tons, 30 cannons	Sardinia	Lost on the coast
1669	Galère, La Thérèse, Cdr. d'Hectot	Candie (Greece)	At the bombardment. Explosion with loss of all the crew
1670	Rouen, 850 tons, 52 cannons	Le Havre	Lost on the rocks of the Hoc
1671	Mazarin, 750 tons, 48 cannons	Turtle Island	Wrecked
1673	SOL, Le Jules, 700 tons, 38 cannons, Cdr. Reynier Infante, 600 tons, 36 cannons Bayonnais, 500 tons, 34 cannons St Sébastien, 350 tons, 30 cannons	Lisbon Porto Rico Indian Ocean Atlantic Ocean	All lost with her crew river Tage with diamonds Lost on the coast Lost at Tranquebar Lost at Terceira
1674	Breton, 900 tons, 56 cannons	Indies	Lost on the coast at Sao Thome
1676	Fidèle, 1000 tons, 56 cannons	Corsica	Lost near Porto Vecchio
1677	Galere, L'Heureuse	Civita Vecchia	Explosion. All on board lost
1677	SOL, L'Intrépide, Cdr. Gabaret SOL, Le Glorieux, Cdr. de l'Hézine SOL, Le Précieux Marquis, 750 tons, 46 cannons	Tobago	These 4 ships burnt down and explode with 7 Dutch ships
1678	17 ships, squadron of the Antilles, Adm. d'Estrées Dauphin Royal, 300 tons, 12 cannons	Venezuela Sables d'Olonne	Lost on Aves rocks by fault of the pilots. Crew saved Near Anse de Sauveterre
1679	SOL, Le Sans Pareil, Cdr. de Bérulles SOL, Le Conquérant, 72 cannons, Cdr. de Villiers Prince, 1200 tons, 66 cannons	Belle-Isle en Mer Off Britanny "	Lost in the storm with 1400 men on board Lost in the storm "
1680	Frigate, La Belle, Cdr de Quincé	Saint Domingue	Lost with all hands
1683	Trompeuse, 200 tons, 24 cannons	Saint Thomas	Lost by fire
1684	Marquis, 250 tons, 28 cannons Caché, 350 tons, 34 cannons	Brittany Portugal	Lost off Brest Lost on the coast
1691	Oriflamme, 800 tons, 50 cannons	Brittany	Lost on the coast body and souls
1692	Frigate, La Serpente, Cdr Jean Doublet Rochefort, 950 tons, 56 cannons Assuré, 800 tons, 60 cannons	Dunkirk Marocco "	Wrecked with a prize while entering Dunkirk. 101 men drowned Lost at Ceuta during the storm "
1694	Solide, 600 tons, 44 cannons	Turtle Island	Lost on the rocks - Cannons salvaged in 1701
1695	Hasardeux, 500 tons, 44 cannons	Santo Domingo	Lost on the coast
1697	SOL, Le Fougueux, Cdr. d'Amfreville	Strait of Gibraltar	Lost with all hands
1698	SOL, L'Adroit, Cdr. de Sève Mary Rose, 800 tons, 50 cannons	English Channel Cyprus	Explosion in company of an English Explosion
1702	Monmouth prize, 44 cannons	Spain	Lost on a rock in Vigo bay
1703	Adroit, 400 tons, 44 cannons	Orcades	Explosion with the Dutch Château d'Anvers - 444 men lost
1704	SOL, St Michel, Cdr. de Rybeyrette	Raz of Sein (Brittany)	Lost on a rock. only a few drowned
1705	Magnanime, 1550 tons, 80 cannons Lis, 1800 tons, 88 cannons	Marbella	Lost by fire
1707	Hermione, 400 tons, 34 cannons	Saint Thomas	Lost by fire
1708	SOL, Volante	Santo domingo	Lost on the coast
1709	SOL, Le Bristol, Cdr. de Sabrevois	Ushant	Ex-English vessel seized by the French in a fight, lost with all hands
1711	SOL, Le Magnanime, 72 c., Cdr. de Coursevac SOL, Le Fidèle, 58 c., Cdr. de Coursevac	Off Azores	Dugay-Trouin squadron coming back from thr ransom of Rio de Janeiro with immense treasures. Foundered with 1.600 men on board
1711	SOL, L'Acis, Cdr. la Boularderie	Brest roads	Capsize with several personalities of the city on board
1713	SOL, Le Fendant, Cdr. de Roquemador Neptune, 1400 tons, 72 cannons	Indies Central America	Lost with all hands en route Near La Guayra
1714	Adelaïde, 400 tons, 44 cannons	Cuba	Lost during a cyclone off Cape Corrientes
1718	SOL, La Parfaite, 400 tons, 40 c., Cdr. de Nangis	Cyprus	Lost with all hands in Famagosta bay
1725	Corvette, Chameau, Cdr. de St James	Louisburg	Lost with all hands
1729	SOL, Eléphant Cdr. de Vaudreuil	Quebec	Wrecked on a shoal. All saved on board
1739	SOL, L'Atlas, Cdr. de Sorel	Ushant	Lost on the rocks. 80 drowned on 700 men
1741	SOL, Le Bourbon, Cdr. de Boulainvilliers	Portugal	Foundered with 560 men on board
1742	Corvette, Sibylle, Cdr. de Castillon	Algeria	Lost on a rockk and foundered with all on board but 39 men
1745	Corvette, Le Fleuron, Cdr. de Desgouttes SOL, Eole, Cdr. de Julien	Brest roads Aix island	Lost by accidental fire. 12 victims Wrecked as 340 men are sick
1746	Frigate, Insulaire, Cdr. de la Baume Frigate, Duc D'Orleans, Cdr. de Champlain Frigate, Marie Gertrude	Chandernagor East Indies "	Wrecked in the Ganges river with 192 men lost Lost with all hands but 10 on 250 Lost with all hands
1759	SOL, Le Thésée, Cdr. de Kersaint SOL, Le Juste, Cdr. de Saint-Allouarne	Quiberon	Battle of Quiberon. Capsize with the loss of 530 men Lost on a shoal entrance of Loire river with 600 men
1762	SOL, Dragon, Cdr. du Dresnay des Roches	Saint Domingue	On a rock entering the Cap roads with 40 men drowned
1762	Frigate, Opale, Cdr. D'Oisy Flute Barbue, Cdr. de Cramahé Frigate, Zénobie, Cdr. Desages	Moganne Island Penmarch pointe English coast	Wrecked while passing by the Island. Everybody is saved Lost on the rocks after her mast was broken by the storm Lost body and souls
1773	SOL, Mars, Cdr. B. de Marigny	Mauritius Island	Lost by fire
1777	Flute, Hippopotame, Cdr. de Fayard Flute, Laverdy, Cdr. de Trémigon	Reunion Island	Lost through a big swell on the coast
1779	Cutter, L'Alerte, Cdr. de Capellis	Carribean	Lost body and souls
1780	Frigate, La Diane, Cdr. de Chambertrand Frigate, La Charmante, Cdr. De Mingo Brig, Combel, Cdr. De Goisbriant SOL, Couronne	Martinique Sein Island Carribean Brest	Lost body and souls Lost body and souls - 200 men Lost body and souls Lost by fire in the roads
1781	SOL, Le Mesnil, Cdr. Duclos-Gayot Frigate, Venus, Cdr. G. de Belizal Frigate, L'Inconstante, Cdr. de Longueval SOL, L'Intrépide, Cdr. Duplessis SOL, Le César	Granville Glénans Island Santo Domingo " Dominica Island	Dashed to pieces by the rocks on the coast All saved Explosion with the greatest part of the crew " Explosion after being seized by the British with 400 prisonners
1782	SOL, Vigilant, Cdr. de Macarty SOL, Scipion, Cdr. de Grimouard	Boston Santo Domingo	Lost by the fault of a pilot Lost on the rocks leaving the bay
1783	SOL, Bourgogne, Cdr. de Champmartin Corvette, Dragon, Cdr. de L'Espine	Curaçao coast Santo Domingo	Wrecked on the coast Wrecked on the coast and burned down
1784	Flute, Adour, Cdr. du Clot Gabare Sylphide, Cdr. d'Allemand	Ré Island Brest	All saved Lost on the rocks
1785	Corvette, Clairvoyant, Cdr. de Segonzac	Audierne	Lost on the rocks after a storm
1788	Frigate, Pénélope, Cdr. S. de Bras Frigate, La Vénus, Cdr. de Thanouarn	South Pacific Seas "	1 officers and 11 men lost Disappeared
1788	Frigate, L'Astrolabe, Admiral de La Pérouse Frigate, La Boussole, Admiral de La Pérouse	Vanikoro	Lost body and souls - 500 drowned
1793	Frigate, Bellone, Cdr. Bien SOL, Le Républicain, Cdr. Van Dongen	Quiberon Brest roads	Lost on the rocks Lost on the rocks Mingan
1794	SOL, Le Scipion, Cdr. de Goy	Leghorn roads	Lost by fire with 150 men
1795	SOL, Le 9 Thermidor, Cdr. Doré SOL, Le Scipion, Cdr. Huguet SOL, Le Superbe, Cdr. Colomb SOL, Le Neptune, Cdr. Tiphaine SOL, L'Alcide, Cdr. Leblond Saint Hilaire Corvette, Assemblée Nationale, Cdr. Courouge Frigate, Méduse, Cdr. Constantin	Brest " " " Fréjus Tréguier Atlantic Ocean	Brest squadron " " Foundered with 50 men Explosion while fighting Wrecked on the coast Foundered
1796	Frigate, Impatiente, Cdr. Deniau Frigate, Surveillante, Cdr. Bernard Frigate, Andromaque, Cdr. Morel SOL, Séduisant, Cdr. Dufossey	Bantry Bay, Ireland " Arcachon Sein Island	Wrecked on the coast - Part of the crew taken prisonners " Wrecked on the coast to escape the English Lost on a rock with her crew
1797	Corvette, Courageux, Cdr. Defraye SOL, Les Droits de l'Homme, Cdr. Lacrosse	Kattegat Audierne bay	Explosion while fighting Foundered in the storm with 217 soldiers and crew
1798	Brig, Agile, Cdr. La Marillière SOL, L'Orient, Cdr. Brueys Ship, Anémone, Cdr. Garibou	Carribean Aboukir Alexandria	Sprung a leak in a storm Explosion during the battle with 900 men 10 men, including a General, are slaughtered by the Arabs
1799	Frigate, Preneuse, Cdr. L'Hermite Ship, L'Italie, Cdr. Morandi Corvette, Le Brûle-Gueule, Cdr. Fréland	Mauritius Island Egypt Sein Island	Wrecked on the coast while fighting against the English Explosion on the Nile while fighting against Arabs Lost body and souls
1800	Frigate, Carmagnole, Cdr. Hubert	Flessingue	Lost body and souls
1802	SOL, Banel, Cdr. Callamand Frigate, Fraternité, Cdr. Bernard SOL, Desaix, Cdr. Christy-Palière	Algeria Atlantic Ocean Santo Domingo	Lost at Cape Tenes - 500 are drowned or slaughtered by the Arabs Lost body and souls Wrecked on the coast to escape the English
1803	Corvette, Bayonnaise, Cdr. Plassan	Cape Finisterre	Wrecked on the cape and burned
1805	SOL, Achille, Cdr. Deniéport SOL, L'Indomptable, Cdr. Hubert	Cadix Trafalgar	Lost after the battle of Trafalgar Lost on the rocks after the battle with 1200 men
1806	Corvette, Phaéton, Cdr. Sauls SOL, Impérial, Cdr. Le Bigot Warship, Dorothée, Cdr. Carteau Corvette, Malicieuse, Cdr. Boissey	Santo Domingo " Calais Dovenson	Wrecked with bad weather Wrecked and burned down to escape from the English " Wrecked on the coast to escape from the English
1808	Frigate, Hermione, Cdr. Mahé Corvette, Cygne, Cdr. Trobriant Flute, Seine, Cdr. de Comorre	Mauritius Island Sables-d'Olonne Guadeloupe	Wrecked on the coast through bad weather
1809	SOL, Tonnerre, Cdr. de la Roncière SOL, Aquilon, Cdr. Manigon SOL, Calcutta, Cdr. Lafond Frigate, Indienne, Cdr. Epron Frigate, Cybèle, Cdr. Cocault Transport, Le Cerf, Cdr. Laporte	Rochefort " " " " Mediterranean Sea	Story of "Brûlots de l'Ile d'Aix" " " " Wrecked on the coast after the battle Disappeared
1812	Frigate, La Flore, Cdr. Lissilour Frigate, La Danaé, Cdr. Villon	Chioggia Trieste Roads	Lost body and souls Explosion
1816	Frigate, La Méduse, Cdr. de Chaumareys	Arguin shoals	Totally lost on the shoals - Cannibalism cases - Immortalized by Jericho
1817	Warship, Le Serein, Cdr. Chair Ship, Alouette, Cdr. Rigodit Flute, Caravane, Cdr. de Hergrist	Senegal Santo Domingo Martinique	Lost body and souls Lost off Cap-Français Lost on the coast during a cyclone
1820	Corvette, Uranie, Cdr. de Freycinet	Falkland Islands	Lost on an unknown reef
1822	Frigate, Africaine, Cdr. Epron	New Brunswick	Lost on Sable Island in the fog
1823	Frigate, Cornaline, Cdr. Lettré Brig, Levrette, Cdr. Lefèvre	Portuguse coast Minorca	Lost on Cape Las Roques in bad weather - 5 officers and 140 crew lost 1 officer and 10 crew perished
1827	Brig, La Lamproie, Bisson	Mediterranean Sea	Explosion to avoid being taken by the Turcs
1829	Brig, Turquoise, Cdr. Marion	Reunion Island	Lost body and souls
1830	Brig, Aventure, Cdr. d'Assigny Brig, Silène, Cdr. Bruat	Algeria	Wrecked because of the fog - Half of the men slaughtered by the Arabs
1832	Flute, Truite, Cdr. Tessain	Levant	Wrecked on rocks of Mandry port
1833	Frigate, Résolue, Cdr. Lemaitre SOL, Superbe, Cdr. D'Oysonville Ship, La Lilloise, Cdr. de Blosseville	Cherbourg Greece Greenland	Wrecked on the coast Lost on the rocks of Paros Lost without trace
1834	Brig, Marsouin, Cdr. de Clapernon Brig, Rusé, Cdr. de Pierre	Hyeres Islands Bône	Wrecked on the coast Wrecked on the coast as well as 6 other merchant ships
1835	Corvette, Salamandre, Cdr. Duparc Brig, Le Fabert, Cdr. Pardeilhan	Algeria Atlantic Ocean	Some of the crew wounded by the Arabs Lost without trace
1836	Flute, Rhône, Cdr. Fournier	Cette	Wrecked on the coast
1840	Frigate, Magicienne, Cdr. Roy	Philippines	Lost on an uncharted rock
1841	Warship, La Vedette, Cdr. Huché de Cintré Corvette, Algérie, Cdr. Gatier	Philippines Greece	Lost without trace Lost with 60 men
1842	Brick, Le Dunois, Cdr. Vrignaud	Atlantic Ocean	Lost without trace
1845	Corvette, Groënland Brick, Le Papin, Cdr. Fleuriot Brick, Colibri, Cdr. Orcel	Marocco " Madagascar	Several men are wounded by the Arabs Lost with 80 men Lost body and souls
1846	Corvette, Le Berceau, Cdr. Gout Corvette, Seine, Cdr. Leconte Warship, Eridan, Cdr. d'Alteyrac	Reunion Island New-Caledonia Oyapok	Lost during a cyclone Wrecked Lost while on the river of Cayenne
1847	Corvette, Caraïbe, Cdr. Cosnier Corvette, Victorieuse, Cdr. Rigault de Genouilly Frigate, Gloire, Cdr. Cosnier	Senegal Korea "	23 men drowned Wrecked on a reef of rocks "
1848	Frigate, Cuvier, Cdr. Aubry-Bailleul	Mediterraean Sea	Lost by fire
1854	Warship, Pluto, Cdr. Fisquet SOL, Henri IV, Cdr. Jehenne	Black Sea	Wrecked on the coast during bad weather
1855	Frigate, La Semillante, Cdr. Jugan	Bonifacio Strait	Lost on the rocks with 700 drowned
1861	Warship, L'Etincelle, Cdr. Hamon	China	Lost without trace
1868	Corvette, Le Monge, Cdr. Charlemagne	Annam	Lost during a Typhoon
1869	Corvette, La Gorgone, Cdr. Mage	Off Brest	Lost on the rocks
1874	Warship, Magenta, Cdr. Galiber	Toulon roads	Explosion
1875	Warship, Forfait, Cdr. Vivielle	Hyeres islands	Foundered after a collision with the warship Reine-Blanche
1879	Warship, L'Arrogante	Hyeres roads	Lost on the coast during bad weather - 80 drowned
1884	Transport, Bièvre, Cdr. Adam	Groix island	Lost on the rocks
1885	Transport, Oise, Cdr. Thierry Warship, Renard, Cdr. Laffon de Ladebat	Madagascar Gulf of Aden	Lost on the coast during a cyclone Lost body and souls during a cyclone
1889	Torpedo boat, N° 110, Cdr. Villers Moriamé	Cape of Barfleur	Lost during bad weather
1893	Warship, Labourdonnais, Cdr. Vuillaume	Madagascar	Lost on the coast during a cyclone
1895	Torpedo boat, N° 20, Sauviron	Trousses roads	Sprung a leak
1900	Transport, La Framée, Lt. de Mauduit du Plessis Transport, La Caravane, Lt. Diacre	Cape Saint Vincent Japan	Collision with the loss of 53 crew Foundered after a collision with a Japanese transport

Comments

- 1. Treasures On 28/08/2010
Hello thecityoflouisburg,

Yes I do have sources... The French archives (Archives Nationales) in Paris and in the regions !

You need time, patience and dedication to find the full reports of these events.
- 2. thecityoflouisburg On 28/08/2010
I enjoy reading your reasons for the loss in the right column, do you have any sources to read further into them ?
- 3. nicola On 24/03/2010
I am looking for a site or book to help with info for my school homework on shipwrecks in the Seychelles I have picked the Farquhar Islands. Particularly the following wrecks:
'Heureuse' 1763 Providence

british brigantine 'Aure' 1836

french barque 'Federation' 1894

british schooner 'Maggie Low' 1901

british 'Endeavour' 1906

Norweigan 'Jorgen Bank' 1906

'Dagmar' 1907
I am interested in types of vessel, routes, wreck circumstances etc. I hope you can help me many thanks.
- 4. Kerri Blum On 08/10/2009
i am looking for as much information as i can on french ships sunk around the dominican republic, is there a resource that you could recommend to a beginning researcher?
- 5. Pierre van den Boogaerde On 13/04/2009
Thank you very much for this very complete list. Much appreciated. If you want some more info of the losses in Madagascar, you might be interested by my book on wreckages in Madagascar. Here is the link: http://www.strategicbookpublishing.com/ShipwrecksOfMadagascar.html
- 6. malcolm tuner On 21/11/2008
the alouette was wrecked at olifantsbos point on the cape peninsula on 6 june 1817 i found a bronze mug engraved with the name l,austerlitz an ocean class first rate french ship of the line on the wreck site, ??

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