Heller Le Superbe

The Superbe belonged to the Téméraire class and was the result of a maritime program aimed at enhancing the diversity of the ships in the naval forces from Louis XVI's reign to the 18th century. The Superbe was developed over a long period and was built in 1782 according to the plans of engineer Jacques-Noël Sané. Classified as a 74-gun ship, it had the unique feature of a copper-coated hull. This practice of doubling had become widespread since 1770. As a result, the hull, particularly the shell, was protected from worms and other parasites. An additional advantage was that the ship gained several knots in speed. The Superbe was equipped with 74 guns, distributed as follows: 28 pieces of 36 pounds on the 1st battery, 30 pieces of 18 pounds on the 2nd battery, and 16 pieces of 8 pounds on the forecastle. Like all 74-gun ships, the Superbe also lacked a mantelet on the second battery. It is noteworthy that the figurehead of this ship represents a coat of arms that was introduced as a regulation in 1785. The Superbe was commissioned into the naval army of Admiral Villaret De Joyeuse and sank in January 1795 during a fierce storm. The storm damaged many ships in this fleet, including the Superbe.