The Redoutable was a Téméraire-class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. She took part in the battles of the French Revolutionary Wars in the Brest squadron, served in the Caribbean in 1803, and duelled with HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar, killing Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson during the action. She sank in the storm that followed the battle.
The Redoutable (centre) fighting the Temeraire (right) and HMS Victory (left), by Louis-Philippe Crépin
Redoutable (second from left) overtakes Neptune (far left), rushing to cover the aft of Bucentaure (far right) from Nelson's Victory (centre).
Redoutable simultaneously engaged by Victory and Temeraire
Redoutable during the late stages of the battle, dismasted and attacked by two larger ships.
Seventy-four (ship)
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The "seventy-four" was a type of two-decked sailing ship of the line, which nominally carried 74 guns. It was developed by the French navy in the 1740s, replacing earlier classes of 60- and 62-gun ships, as a larger complement to the recently developed 64-gun ships. Impressed with the performance of several captured French seventy-fours, the British Royal Navy quickly adopted similar designs, classing them as third rates. The type then spread to the Spanish, Dutch, Danish and Russian navies.
Scale model of Achille, a typical French seventy-four of the Téméraire class at the beginning of the 19th century.
Broadside of a French 74-gun ship from 1755 (1/24th scale model)
Inner arrangement of a Russian 74-gun ship. Elements of Sané's design are present, but with a British-style layout.
Geometric and scenographic projection of a Venetian 74-gun Leon Trionfante-class ship, late 18th century.