Astrée in the Naval battle of Louisbourg, by Auguste-Louis de Rossel de Cercy |
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| Career (France) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Hermione |
| Laid down: | 1778 |
| Launched: | 1779 |
| Fate: | Sank 1792 |
| Notes: | The subject of a reconstruction project in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France from 1997 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Concorde class 12-pounder frigate |
| Displacement: | 1,166 tons |
| Length: | 44.2m |
| Beam: | 11.24m |
| Draught: | 5.78m |
| Complement: | 255 |
| Armament: | variously reported as 26, 32 or 36 cannon of 12lb |
The Hermione was a 12-pounder Concorde class frigate of the French Navy. She became famous when she ferried General Lafayette to the United States in 1780 to allow him to join the American side in the American Revolutionary War.
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She was of the type of frigate known as light (French: légère), due to speed and maneuverability. She could carry a crew of 255, had a displacement of 1,166 tons, a length overall of 44.2m, a beam of 11.24m and a draught of 5.78m.
She was armed with 26, 32 or 36 (sources vary) 12-pound cannons and had three decks: quarter deck, gun deck and a berth deck.
This project was conceived by members of the Centre International de la Mer in 1992, and construction began in 1997, envisaging a launch in the Spring of 2013 (as compared to the original, which took less than a year to build).
The shipyard is in one of the two dry docks beside the Corderie Royale at Rochefort.
As far as possible, traditional construction methods are used although modern power tools were substituted for the period tools on some jobs. The site is open to the public, and admission fees help fund the project.
The original plans have been modified in several ways for reasons of strength and safety: planks have been bolted rather than pegged to avoid movement during the long period of construction. Similarly, the mast sections are fastened with glue rather than metal hoops to avoid water penetration. The cannons are lightweight and non-functional to save weight, and for safety reasons. Hemp rigging will be used, but the sails will be synthetic for strength and to allow a smaller crew to handle them.
An engine will be used for safety, and electric generators for lighting and basic amenities.
Photographs of the reconstruction from 2005
Photographs of the reconstruction from 2006
Photographs of the reconstruction from 2009