LA COURONNE

Heavy ships were used to watch and defend the coast of France during the rule of Richelieu. Isaac De Launay Razilly thought that these ships were too heavy and submittedto Richelieu that idea of replacing them by small ships called "Dragon" or "Hirondelle" and arming them with heavy guns.However the siege of La Rochelle proved that thses galleys  coud not fight heavy ships. The keelof la COURONNE was therfore laid in 1629 in the ship building site because it was surrounded by forest thus avoiding the need to transport wood. La COURONNE was completed in 1635 at Sedre. La COURONNE was classed as a 68 gun ship and posseded very complete batteries of guns for 12 guns were designed to fire astern and 8 to fire ahead. LA COURONNE was armed Admiral Ship in 1638 and joined the naval forces under Sourdis at Fontarabie. La COURONNE was named Admiral Ship in 1639 and was prepared for a new campaign on the Spanish coast. The whole fleet was assembled in the Bay of St Martin de Ré. La COURONNE was commanded by Isaac De Launay  Razilly when, unfortunately, a great storm kept the whole fleet anchored until 15 May. The fleet arrived off the Spanish coast of Corogna at the beggining of June and,during that month, another storm obliged them to retreat to Belle-Ile. At the beggining of August, the fleet set sail again for Laredo where the opposing Admiral was burned. La COURONNE was disarmed on 19 September. No document has been found to give information on what happened to the vessel later.

FEATURES

• Lenght of hull, overall : 65.50m
• Total lenght : 79.30m
• Height: 70.00m