French ship Indivisible (1799)

Capture of HMS Swiftsure by Indivisible and Dix-Août
Career (France)
Name: Indivisible
Builder: Brest
Laid down: May 1793
Launched: 8 July 1799
Completed: October 1799
Renamed: Alexandre on 5 February 1803
Captured: On 6 February 1806 by the Royal Navy
Career (UK)
Name: Alexandre
Acquired: Captured on 6 February 1806
Reclassified: Powder hulk in 1808
Fate: Sold for breaking up on 16 May 1822
General characteristics
Class and type:80-gun Tonnant-class ship-of-the-line
Tons burthen:2,231 4994 bm
Length:195 ft 2 in (59.49 m) (gundeck)
158 ft 8 in (48.36 m) (keel)
Beam:51 ft 4.5 in (15.659 m)
Depth of hold:23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
Sail plan:Full rigged ship
Complement:590
Armament:French service:

30 × 36-pounder long guns
32 × 24-pounder long guns
18 × 12-pounder long guns
4 × obusiers de vaisseau
British service:
Lower deck: 28 × 32-pounder guns
Upper deck: 28 × 18-pounder guns
Quarterdeck: 4 × 12-pounder guns + 10 × 32-pounder carronades
Forecastle: 2 × 12-pounder gun + 10 × 32-pounder carronades

Roundhouse: 6 × 18-pounder carronades

Indivisible was a Tonnant class 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.

Originally named the Indivisible in 1793, she was commissioned in Toulon on 23 September 1800. On 5 February 1803, she was renamed Alexandre, and recommissioned in Brest under Captain Leveyer.

In December, under Captain Garreau, she was part of Corentin Urbain Leissègues's squadron bound for San Domingo. She took part in the subsequent Battle of San Domingo, where she was badly damaged by the fire of HMS Superb, which left her adrift, her rigging shot off and her rudder destroyed. She was taken by HMS Spencer.

From 1808, the Royal Navy used her as a gunpowder hulk in Plymouth. Indivisible was eventually broken up in 1822.

References and sources