French ship Courageux (1751)

Career (France)
Name:	Courageux
Launched:	1753
Captured:	13 August 1761, by Royal Navy
Career (Great Britain)
Name:	HMS Courageux
Builder:	Brest
Acquired:	13 August 1761
Fate:	Wrecked off Gibraltar, 18 December 1796
General characteristics
Class and type:	74-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1721 tons (1748.6 tonnes)
Length:	140 ft 10⅜ in (42.936 m) (gundeck)
Beam:	48 ft (15 m)
Depth of hold:	20 ft 10.5 in (6.363 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full rigged ship
Armament:	74 guns (French Navy): Gundeck: 28 × 36 pdrs Upper gundeck: 30 × 24 pdrs Quarterdeck: 16 × 8 pdrs 74 guns (Royal Navy): Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs Quarterdeck: 18 × 9 pdrs

For other ships of the same name, see French ship Courageux and HMS Courageux.

The Courageux was a heavy 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1753. The Courageux was considered heavy because she carried 24 pounders on her upper deck rather than the normal 18 pounders.

She was captured by the British ship HMS Bellona, also of 74 guns on 13 August 1761, whilst in the company of two frigates. The Courageux sighted Bellona in company with the frigate Brilliant. The British ships pursued, and after 14 hours, caught up with the French ships and engaged, the Brilliant attacking the frigates, and Bellona taking on the Courageux. The frigates eventually got away, but the Courageux struck her colours, and was later repaired and taken into the Royal Navy as the third rate HMS Courageux.

She was wrecked off Gibraltar on 18 December 1796.

References

• Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.