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Thread: The French Navy

  1. #1
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    Default The French Navy

    Ok, so I've been doing a lot of research leading up to finally getting the game. I've made a few observations.

    It appears everyone is all about the British and the French get very little love. So I started digging into the French side of things. It appears through my research the French shot themselves in the foot. Most of their experienced admirals and captains were loyal to the king. During the revolution most fled and those that didn't were guillotined. So there was a leadership vacuum. I could be wrong, but looking at success rates of major fleet engagments says otherwise.

    I also spent some time trying to find a successful French frigate captain in the vein of Cochrane. I didn't turn up much. Maybe someone here can point me in a better direction. Also a running theme I saw in the French ship list captured, captured, captured. There were few frigates that were successful long term.

    I do love the amount of small scale options available for scenarios. There are tons of single ship actions to read about between frigates which I think will be my niche. While I love the good 74's and larger they don't appear to have gotten a lot of use, other than major actions.

    Anyway, if anyone has any interesting reading a nudge in the right direction would be appreciated.

  2. #2
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    I have also done some research into the French navy - they lost ! (all together now... Rule Brittania etc.)
    Only joking...
    Never knowingly undergunned

  3. #3
    Admiral of the White
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    Sails of Glory is designed so that both the French and the English are pretty much on equal footing. That's not how history unfolded, but it would be a gods awfully boring game if the Brits won all the time!! House rules and such can adjust the game to be more historically accurate, but again, good luck trying to find French players. We've discussed this a bit in the past; awards or some recognition for graded losses, switching sides, etc.

    I'll let others comment more on the actual history as I've not done much reading on the French. However, I have been slowing reading this book for another point of view on Trafalgar:

    http://www.amazon.com/Trafalgar-Span...NY6FQD2ZM5SRQW

    I just spotted this book as well, but I cannot comment on it's quality:

    http://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Trafalga...e+spanish+navy
    "It's not the towering sails, but the unseen wind that moves a ship."
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  4. #4
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    You might find this beneficial. Amazon has used copies starting at $4.46: http://www.amazon.com/British-Frigat...qid=1436197128

    Name:  0 British Frigate vs, French Frigate.png
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  5. #5
    Retired Admiral of the Fleet
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  6. #6
    Admiral of the White
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    Thanks, Eric. The second title does sound interesting. As I'm now reading several books at the same time I'll have to see when I can squeeze another title into the batch. Still slowly getting through, Seize the Fire by Nicolson.
    "It's not the towering sails, but the unseen wind that moves a ship."
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  7. #7
    Admiral of the White
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    Quote Originally Posted by 7eat51 View Post
    You might find this beneficial. Amazon has used copies starting at $4.46: http://www.amazon.com/British-Frigat...qid=1436197128
    Wouldn't this be more accurate if it said French frigate vs. French frigate (manned by British)? I think the French built better ships, but the British kept stealing them!!
    Last edited by Nightmoss; 07-06-2015 at 12:22. Reason: fixed an error
    "It's not the towering sails, but the unseen wind that moves a ship."
    –English Proverb

  8. #8
    Retired Admiral of the Fleet
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    I'll let Sven respond, Jim.

    I do find it interesting that in most of my reading lately, the authors highlight the French as better ship designers. Why were they so good at it? The only thing I can think of is that France is near Italy, the home of superlative design, style, panache, élan, and, coincidentally, my family.
    “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” ― Plato

  9. #9
    Admiral of the Fleet.
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    This guy may be of interest.



    Pierre André de Suffren
    Bust of Suffren by Houdon
    Nickname(s) Jupiter
    Born (1729-07-17)17 July 1729
    Château de Saint-Cannat
    Died 8 December 1788(1788-12-08) (aged 59)
    Paris
    Buried at Ashes defiled in 1793 by the Revolutionaries[1]
    Allegiance Sovereign Military Order of Malta
    Kingdom of France
    Service/branch French Navy
    Years of service 1743 - 1784
    Rank Vice-admiral in the French Navy

    General of the Galley of Malta
    Unit Indian Ocean squadron
    Battles/wars War of the Austrian Succession:


    Seven Years' War:


    American Revolutionary War:

    Awards Order of the Holy Spirit

    Order of Saint-John of Jérusalem
    Admiral comte Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez, bailli de Suffren (17 July 1729 – 8 December 1788)

    Rob.

  10. #10
    Admiral. R.I.P.
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    The French must think highly of Admiral comte Pierre André de Suffren because they have named several classes of warship after him over the years, including their newest nuclear attack submarines.

  11. #11

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by tgalante View Post
    ...

    I also spent some time trying to find a successful French frigate captain in the vein of Cochrane. I didn't turn up much. Maybe someone here can point me in a better direction. Also a running theme I saw in the French ship list captured, captured, captured. There were few frigates that were successful long term...
    What about this one?

    Louis-Jean-Nicolas Lejoille


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis-...colas_Lejoille

  12. #12
    Admiral of the Fleet.
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    Here are a few names you may care to sift through Thomas.
    Rob.




    B



    C



    D



    E



    F



    G



    H



    I



    J



    K



    L



    M



    N



    P



    Q



    R



    S



    T



    V



    W


  13. #13
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    Thanks, everyone! I guess I have some reading to do.

  14. #14
    Admiral of the Fleet.
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    Quote Originally Posted by tgalante View Post
    Thanks, everyone! I guess I have some reading to do.
    I meant to add Thomas, that if you dwell on the names and click it will take you to a biography.
    Rob.

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