Hermione (ship)

The replica of the Hermione in Rochefort (August 2014).

Rear of the replica of the Hermione in Rochefort (August 2014).

Hermione is the name of the French frigate with which the Marquis de La Fayette returned to Boston in 1780 to support the American colonists in their struggle for independence . In a construction period of only eleven months, the ship was completed in 1779 in the naval arsenal of Rochefort according to plans by Henri Chevillard, identical to three other ships (la Courageuse, la Concorde, la Fée). These new light frigates were characterized by their handiness and speed.

Furnishing

The Hermione was equipped with 26 cannons which could fire projectiles of 12 French pounds "poid de marc" (489.5g). Hence the name "Zwölfer Frigate". In addition, she carried 6 or 8 six-pounder cannons.

The curb weight was 1166 tons, the hull length 44.2 m, the total length 65 m, the width 11.55 m and the depth 5.78 m. Spread over three masts, a sail area of more than 1500 m² was achieved.

reconstruction

A replica of the frigate has been built in a dry dock of the former Rochefort naval arsenal since 1997. Since the original blueprints had been burned for safety reasons, new ones had to be made. Plans for a sister ship from the British Naval Museum, the Concorde, served as a template. The reconstruction of the Hermione was u. a. Financed by the tour proceeds, grants from the French state and the EU, as well as donations.

After its completion, the Hermione was launched in 2014. She left her construction dock at the beginning of September 2014 for the first sea trials off the French Atlantic coast and sailed to North America in 2015, where she stayed for 4 months and then sailed back. From February 2, 2018, the Hermione undertook a second large sea voyage from Rochefort to the Mediterranean via Tangier , Sète , Marseille and Toulon.

Photos of the reconstruction of the Hermione in Rochefort

2005
2009
2009
2011

Web links

Commons : Hermione - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ French Ministry of Industry: 2.4 The definitive standards In the same way: "One kilogram weighs 18,827.15 grams of the market weight." (The old pound was 9216 grän.)
^ Voyage en Méditerranée (fr) .

[1] French Ministry of Industry: 2.4 The definitive standards In the same way: "One kilogram weighs 18,827.15 grams of the market weight." (The old pound was 9216 grän.)

[2] Voyage en Méditerranée (fr) .