Posted in Naval & Aviation History

Memoirs Frigate Hermione La Fayette (II): Shipwreck, Location and Reconstruction of the French Ship

After the help it provided in the United States War of Independence, we continue telling the memoirs of the frigate Hermione La Fayette on this post. Specifically, we will talk about its latest missions, its rediscovery at the bottom of the sea and its reconstruction with a replica that exists today. Given the great historical relevance of this large French sailboat, the modelers of Artesanía Latina created a faithful wooden model at 1:89 scale (22517-N). Which, by the way, is now also presented at Gift Pack (22517-L) with the model, its specific paints and its figurines. All in 1 at a cheaper price than if the products are purchased separately!

Gift Pack Frigate Hermione La Fayette avec Model, Paints and Figurines (22517-L) by Artesanía Latina.

Seven months after its return to France – where it underwent various repairs – it was entrusted with new campaigns. In September 1782, the frigate’s destination ocean will no longer be the Atlantic, but the Indian Ocean. The coasts of India and the Bay of Bengal await the Hermione and its new commander, Lieutenant Du Pérou. Aim? Support the fleet of Admiral Suffren, who fights on a secondary front of the American War. L’Hermione arrives at Île de France on April 18 and joins Suffren on July 14, 1783, a few days after its important victory at Gondelour. Peace was signed in 1783 and L’Hermione returned to Rochefort in February 1784, after several stops on the île de France and Île Bourbon in October 1783.

Frigate Hermione La Fayette (II) Memoirs: Wreck, Location and Reconstruction of the French Ship.

For seven years, from 1784 to 1791, the memoirs of the frigate Hermione La Fayette remain stationary in Rochefort. Its hull is very damaged and requires a very deep and long repair. Her hull and rigging are also not in optimal condition. That is why, since 1789, around 450 repairs have been carried out so that it can sail again.

MEMOIRS OF FRIGATE HERMIONE LA FAYETTE: WRECK AND LOCATION

Times of revolutionary France back in 1793. On the one hand, the country goes to war against the English in February. On the other hand, Vandean revolts occur in the west of the Gallic nation. In these turbulent times, the memoirs of the frigate Hermione La Fayette are written again with Captain Pierre Martin. This is because the French ship is heading to monitor and control the Vendeans and English at the mouth of the Loire River. They must be prevented from landing on the coast and from entering the town of Sables-d’Olonne and Nantes.

Frigate Hermione La Fayette (II) Memoirs: Wreck, Location and Reconstruction of the French Ship.

Its last mission arrives in September of that same year, which leads it to its shipwreck. Hermione only has to escort a convoy of twelve ships with a cargo of sixty-five guns from Indret between the Loire estuary and Brest. The inexperience of the crew is such that the frigate runs aground in the shallow waters of Le Croisic (Plateau du Four) breaking the hull to starboard.

The jewel of French naval history remains for almost two centuries at the bottom of the sea. It was not until July 22, 1984 when a diver, Michel Vasquez, discovered parts of the wreck. With great care, they manage to float some of the remains, thus beginning to bring the frigate Hermione La Fayette back to life. Among others, the anchor, a piece of the rudder and three cannons. The last searches with geolocator end in 2005.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FRIGATE: HERMIONE LA FAYETTE ASSOCIATION

The memoirs of the frigate Hermione La Fayette must be brought back to reality. For this reason, the Hermione La Fayette Association – whose official license our models hold – decides to create a replica of the French ship. In 1997, its reconstruction began at the Rochefort arsenal. Seventeen years later, on September 7th, 2014, the magnificent replica of L’Hermione was launched.

Hermione La Fayette Frigate Memoirs (II): Reconstruction of the French Ship

Shipyard is located in one of the two dry docks located at one end of the Corderie Royale, on the banks of the Charente River, in Rochefort. The place was designed and conditioned so that it could be visited.

The first and fundamental premise is that the replica is as faithful as possible to the original. That is, a three-masted ship with more than sixty-five meters in length, twelve hundred square meters of sails and a hull made entirely of oak wood. Without original plans, they take as reference those of Concorde, its twin frigate. On this, they are making the required changes with two goals: its adaptation to current regulations and its comfort for the crew.

These are some of the characteristics of the replica: mainmast fifty-four meters above the keel, made with two thousand oak trees, more than four hundred thousand pieces of metal and wood, one thousand pulleys, twenty-six cannons 12 pounds on the battery deck and eight 6s on the main deck.

For the rigging of 18th century ship, around 200 sailors were needed. However, the replica is only 80, which shows that it now has numerous technological improvements. The original frigate was built in just half a year, while the launch of the replica was in the 21st century, it takes six years until 2014.

HERMIONE LA FAYETTE: MODELS FOR THE DELIGHT OF MODELERS

Once its complete history is known, we encourage naval modelers to build our Hermione La Fayette model for advanced level (22517-N) if you have expertise skills or our Easy Kit model for beginners (17000).

Frigate Hermione La Fayette Model (22517-N) by Artesanía Latina. Easy Kit Model Ship Hermione La Fayette (17000) by Artesanía Latina.

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Posted in Naval & Aviation History

Soleil Royal History: the French Warship of King Louis XIV in the 17th Century

It is, for sure, one of the largest and most powerful warships of the Baroque. Without a doubt, it is also the most beautiful decorated of the boats of the time, it was sublime. We are talking about the French warship that was part of the Navy of King Louis XIV during the 17th century. We are writing this post to learn about the history of the Soleil Royal, the Gallic ship of the line with 104 guns arranged in a battery on three levels, flagship of Admiral Tourville. The emblem of the ‘Soleil’ had been chosen by the French monarch as his personal symbol.

Wooden Ship Model Kit. French Warship Soleil Royal 1:72 (22904) by Artesanía Latina.

The history of the Soleil Royal begins with its construction in Brest (France) between 1668 and 1670. Who was in charge of carrying it out? The engineer Laurent Hubac, who takes two years to finish. It is launched in 1669, but unfortunately it lays unused in the port of Brest for years. At first, Soleil Royal does not enters into combat at all.

As we have already mentioned, its decoration is spectacular. The person in charge of this is Antoine Coysevox, a sculptor who creates all the decorations on the ship, including those on the gun embrasures. This plastic artist from the court of Louis XIV is also responsible for the impressive and still existing ornaments of the Palace of Versailles.

Print of the Soleil Royal from the Louvre Museum.
BERAIN Jean I, Musée du Louvre, Département des Arts graphiques, INV 23718, Recto.

SOLEIL ROYAL HISTORY: NINE YEARS’ WAR

The history of the Soleil Royal continues, does not stop. Subsequently, the Soleil Royal is commissioned with 112 guns and 1,200 men on board when the Nine Years’ War in 1688. Also, called War of the Great Alliance, War of the Palatinate and War of the League of Augsburg.

The King decides at first to send all his ships prepared to sail and for battle. However, seeing himself in inferior conditions, he also orders to send the useful ships, even if they are moored to the dock, as is the case of our Soleil Royal. So this vessel departs from the port of Brest on June 22, 1690.

Then, Tourville commands the French ship, a highly respected officer in the Navy. The Soleil Royal remains waiting for a favorable wind to go to the Isle of Wight. There, the English fleet remains anchored after sending two French ships on a reconnaissance mission. On July 10, 1690, the Battle of Béveziers (Beachy Head) broke out with the surprise factor of the French attacking the Anglo-Saxons. After its victory, France seizes control of the English Channel.

The role in history of the Soleil Royal is fundamental as the flagship of the Escadre du Ponant (Squadron of the West) leading the French naval formation on the squad center. It is said that it is a good sailboat, it sails optimally, and its firepower is lethal.

THE FRENCH WARSHIP AT THE BATTLE OF BARFLEUR

Once its naval warfare began, the Soleil Royal became a French war emblem. Now with 104 guns, the French ship leaves the port of Brest on May 12, 1692 leading a fleet with 44 more ships. It may seem that there are many. However, on May 29, the French ships encountered the incredible Anglo-Dutch naval force. 97 powerful warships await the French in the Battle of Barfleur.

Soleil Royal History. Battle of Barfleur.

The crossfire starts! The Soleil Royal and its companions, being vastly outnumbered, decide to attack the enemies. After an arduous fight, it is forced to flee because of the serious damage suffered. Its crew is depleted by half and can barely sail. For this reason, the Soleil Royal and the ships Triomphant and Admirable are forced to anchor in Cherbourg to be repaired. They cannot reach the port of Brest, further away than the one mentioned.

END OF THE SOLEIL ROYAL AT THE BATTLE OF CHERBOURG

The history of the Soleil Royal ends at the Battle of Cherbourg. While docked at the Pointe du Hommet, the French warship is attacked by 17 ships which it repels with its artillery fire. The problem is that the stern of the ship catches fire and spreads the rest on the ship of the line.

Soleil Royal History. Battle of Cherbourg.

With the help of the population of Cherbourg, only one survivor can be rescued from the around 883 – or even more – crew. The end of the history of the Soleil Royal, it remains near the arsenal of the port. Of course, its legacy continues throughout the seas and world naval history. A detailed 1:40 scale model from 1839 of the hull and sculptures of the Soleil Royal is currently on display at the Musée National de la Marine in Paris.

For our part, from Artesanía Latina, we are pleased to bring you this beautiful and faithful miniature replica in wood at 1:72 scale of the Soleil Royal (22904) that you can build with your own hands. For more in-depth information, there is another post on our blog that talks exclusively about the model. If you are an expert modeller and need a challenge at your level and with such beauty… Our Soleil Royal model is for you!

Wooden Ship Model Kit. French Warship Soleil Royal 1:72 (22904) by Artesanía Latina.

Posted in Naval & Aviation History

History of the Belem Training Ship: The French Navigable Monument is 125 years

The French Training Ship Belem celebrates this 2021 one hundred and twenty-five years of history. It was launched in 1896 with a steel hull at the Dubigeon shipyard in Nantes for a purely commercial use between France and Brazil and the Indies for the transport of goods such as sugar or cocoa. To commemorate this important date, what better way to talk about its life, also full of great importance.

History of the Belem Training Ship. The French Sailboat, Docked in Port.

First, we must highlight the enormous measures of the Belem training ship. The boat is 51 meters length, not counting the 7 meters of the bowsprit, by 8.80 meters of maximum beam. In addition, it has three large masts 58 meters height.

The French Sailboat, Docked in Port.

Thanks to the efforts and money of its various owners, the Gallic ship is currently the last three-masted sailing ship to sail in all of Europe. In addition, it is the most precious jewel of the naval heritage of France. In this sense, the Belem received the classification of Historical Monument on February 27, 1984.

History of the Belem Training Ship. The French Sailboat, Docked in Port.

Throughout its history, the Belem school ship has suffered many mishaps and inconveniences, as happens with almost all old ships that still ply the waters of the Earth. This long-lived cargo sailboat passed alternately by English, Italian and again French hands.

With the successive implantation of the steamship, the sailboats of maritime routes gradually disappeared. In 1914 it happened to the Belem when it was acquired by the Duke of Westminster, who decided to transform the ship into an excellent leisure boat. Curiously, it had to be docked on the English Isle of Wight for several years because of the bloody World War I.

HISTORY OF BELEM TRAINING SHIP: AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE SAILBOAT

At the beginning of the 20s of the last century, another lover of the Belem school ship, in this case, Arthur Ernest Guinness, bought the three-masted sailboat and went around the world with his whole family. As mentioned previously, the French ship also passed through Italian hands since 1951, establishing itself as the Italian training ship.

Real image of the command post of the French Belem School Ship.

The Belem was motorized and renamed for various uses – luxury cruise and training ship. Finally, he was discovered by chance in Venice in a sorry state in the late 1970s by a nostalgic hobbyist.

Purchased with the support of a large French bank, the sailboat returned to its native country in 1979. The bank financed the Belem Foundation, which began its restoration. Currently, the Belem training ship is now converted to cabotage as it offers introductory and discovery courses for enthusiasts. It is destined for the French Navy for the training of its cabin boys, appearing also in the great meetings of traditional sailboats.The last works carried out have been the restoration of the furniture with mahogany wood from Cuba.

Live the passion for history and naval modeling with the fantastic model of the French training ship Belem 1/75. A museum jewel for your eyes!Naval modeling. Belem French Training Ship Model at 1/75 scale (22519).

Click here to read the post about the model…