French ship Viala (1795)
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| the Achille Scale model of the Achille, sister-ship of the Viala, on display at the Musée de la Marine in Paris | |
| Career (France) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Viala |
| Namesake: | Joseph Agricol Viala |
| Builder: | Lorient |
| Launched: | 1795 |
| Renamed: |
Voltaire in 1795 Constitution in 1795 Jupiter in 1803 |
| Career (UK) |  |
| Name: | HMS Maida |
| Namesake: | Battle of Maida |
| Fate: | Broken up in June 1817. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Téméraire class ship of the line |
| Displacement: | 2900 tonnes |
| Length: | 55.87 metres (172 French feet) |
| Beam: | 14.90 metres (44' 6) |
| Draught: | 7,26 metres (22 French feet) |
| Propulsion: | Up to 2485 m² of sails |
| Complement: | 3 officers + 690 men |
| Armament: |
74 guns:
|
| Armour: | Timber |
The Viala was a 74-gun Téméraire class ship of the line of the French Navy.
Between 1794 and 1795, the French successively named her Viala (in honour of Joseph Agricol Viala), Voltaire (in honour of François-Marie Arouet), and Constitution (after the Constitution of the National Convention).
In the winter of 1796-1797, she took part in the Expédition d'Irlande. She managed to reach Bantry Bay, where she was damaged in a collision with Révolution.
In 1802, she was recommissioned in Toulon, under Captain Faure.
In 1803, she was renamed again to Jupiter, and joined Vice-Admiral Corentin Urbain Leissègues's squadron bound for Santo Domingo, under Captain Laignel. HMS Donegal captured her at the Battle of San Domingo (6 February 1806), while serving in a Royal Navy squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Duckworth.
The Royal Navy then commissioned her as HMS Maida, in honour of the Battle of Maida, the name Jupiter being already used for the 50-gun fourth rate HMS Jupiter.
By 1808, HMS Maida was out of commission at Portsmouth. She was sold on 11 August 1814.
