French ship Héros (1752)

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Héros.

Aftermath of the Battle of Quiberon Bay, by Richard Wright
History
France
Name	Héros
Builder	Brest arsenal
Laid down	November 1750
Launched	1 September 1752
Completed	October 1752
Fate	Scuttled on 21 November 1759
General characteristics
Displacement	1500 tonnes
Length	164 ft (50 m)
Beam	43 ft (13 m)
Draught	20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
Propulsion	sail
Complement	750 men
Armament	Lower battery: 28 × 36-pounder guns Upper battery: 30 × 18-pounder guns Gaillards: 16 × 8-pounder guns
Armour	timber

The Héros ("hero") was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, built by Joseph Chapelle at Brest and launched on 1 September 1752.

In 1755, the Héros, under captain de Kermabon, took part in the Canadian campaign in the Bullion de Montlouet squadron.

In April 1756, Héros sailed from Brest, armed en flute, and under the command of Captain Beaussier de Lisle. She was part of a squadron of three transports and three frigates taking troops to Fort Louisbourg and supplies to Ile Royale during the French and Indian War. In 1756, Beaussier de Lisle brought six ships to Quebec carrying Montcalm and 1,300 troops as reinforcements. On 26 July 1756, homeward bound, as Héros was leaving Louisbourg, she encountered two English ships. In the ensuing engagement, the British were repelled. However, Beaussier de Lisle was wounded.

On 14 November 1759, Héros sortied from Brest with the squadron under the command of marechal de Conflans. The squadron consisted of 20 transports and five frigates, and was attempting to land troops at Comouailles. Six days later the squadron encountered Admiral Hawke's 29 vessels outside Quiberon. During the Battle of Quiberon Bay, Héros attempted to escape but was wrecked off le Croisic and scuttled. On 21 November the English set fire to the wreck.

References

• Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
• Winfield, Rif (2017). French warships in the age of sail 1626-1786 : design, construction, careers and fates. Barnsley, South Yorkshire. ISBN 9781473893511.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)