 Plans of the ship | |
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg) France | |
| Name | Protée |
| Launched | 10 November 1772 |
| Captured | 24 February 1780, by Royal Navy |
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Prothee |
| Acquired | 24 February 1780 |
| Fate | Broken up, 1815 |
| General characteristics[1] | |
| Class & type | Artésien-classship of the line |
| Displacement | 2084tonneaux |
| Tons burthen | 1200port tonneaux |
| Length | 164 ft 1 in (50.01 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 44 ft 7 in (13.59 m) |
| Depth of hold | 19 ft (5.8 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 64 guns of various weights of shot |
Protée was anArtésien-class 64-gunship of the line of theFrench Navy, launched in 1772.[1]
On 16 February 1780,Protée departedLorient escorting aconvoy bound for India, with troops and ammunition.[2]Protée, under CaptainCharles Louis du Chilleau de La Roche was theflagship of the convoy.[3]
On 23 February, off Spain, the convoy metRodney's fleet. Hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned,Protée struck whileCharmante returned to Lorient,[3] arriving there on 3 March.[2] Three merchantmen were also captured. Court-martialled for the loss of his ship, Duchilleau was honourably acquitted.[3]
Protée was commissioned in the Royal Navy as thethird rateHMSProthee. She saw action on 12 April 1782 against a huge French fleet at theBattle of the Saintes under the command ofCaptain Buckner.[4]
She was converted to serve as aprison ship in 1799, andbroken up in 1815. Eight of her small cannons were purchased byJohn Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland and are currently atBelvoir Castle,Leicestershire. The cannon are still fired on special occasions, such as weddings and the Duke's birthday.
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