History | |
---|---|
France | |
Name | Sévère |
Builder | Lorient [1] |
Laid down | December 1773 [1] |
Launched | 17 January 1775 [1] |
In service | November 1778 [1] |
Out of service | 26 January 1784 [1] |
Fate | Wrecked 26 January 1784 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Sévère class ship of the line |
Tons burthen | 1300 tons [1] |
Length | 51.2 metres [1] |
Beam | 13.2 metres [1] |
Draught | 6.7 metres [1] |
Propulsion | Sails |
Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
Armament | 64 guns |
Sévère was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.
Built as an Indiaman by Roth on the lines of a previous ship, Superbe, that had been sold to the Austrian East India Company, Sévère was purchased by the Crown in November 1778 and commissioned for the American Revolutionary War.[1]
She was incorporated into Suffren's squadron. She took part in the Battle of Negapatam in 1782, under Captain Villeneuve-Cillart; during the battle, Cillart panicked and attempted to strike, but was prevented from doing so by officers Dieu and Kerlero de Rosbo. Sévère ended up causing damage to HMS Sultan.[1][Note 1]
In July 1782, in the wake of the Battle of Negapatam, Suffren relieved Cillart from duty and sent him to France to be Court-martialled,[4] replacing him with Lieutenant Maurville de Langle.[5] Maureville de Langle then captained Sévère during the Battle of Trincomalee between 25 August and 3 September 1782,[6] and during the Battle of Cuddalore on 20 June 1783.[7]
Sévère was later armed en flûte, and was wrecked on 26 January 1784 at the Cape of Good Hope.[1] Consequently, Maurville de Langle was retired from the Navy on 25 July. [8]