French ship César (1768)

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Career (France) French Navy Ensign
Name: César
Namesake: Cesar
Ordered: 10 march 1767
Builder: Toulon
Laid down: August 1767
Launched: 3 August 1768
In service: November 1768
Struck: 12 April 1782
General characteristics
Class and type: César class ship of the line
Displacement: 1500 tonnes
Length: 54.6 metres
Beam: 14.1 metres
Draught: 6.7 metres
Propulsion: Sail
Armament:

75 guns:
28 36-pounders
30 18-pounders
16 8-pounders

6 18-pounder howitzers
Armour: Timber

The César was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.

She took part in the American war of Independence under Captain de Raimondis. On 16 August 1778, she fought against HMS Iris.

She took part in the Battle of the Chesapeake. She was present at the Battle of the Saintes, where she was totally dismasted, and captured by HMS Centaur; soon afterwards, her magazines detonated, killing 400 French and 50 English sailors.