French ship Scipion (1778)

{{short description|Ship of the line of the French Navy}}

{{other ships|French ship Scipion}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

Scipion was a French warship of the 18th century, lead ship of her class. She was completed in 1779.

Accounts cited that she was one of the three new naval vessels - along with Hercule (1798) and Pluton (1778) - built by the French that was so top-heavy, they nearly capsized.{{Cite book|title=The French Navy and American Independence: A Study of Arms and Diplomacy, 1774-1787|last=Dull|first=Jonathan R.|date=1975|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9781400868131|location=Princeton, NJ|pages=146}}{{Cite book|title=Beaumarchais and the American Revolution|last=Morton|first=Brian N.|last2=Spinelli|first2=Donald C.|date=2003|publisher=Lexington Books|isbn=0739104683|location=Lanham, MD|pages=231}} To correct Scipion's problem, a stowage was altered and a ballast replaced a part of the water supply.{{Cite book|title=A Treatise on the Stability of Ships|last=Reed|first=Edward James|date=2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781108026437|location=Cambridge|pages=222}} These remedies, however, failed so the French had to shorten the mast to make the ship seaworthy.

Scipion took part in the American War of Independence, notably sailing at the rear of the French squadron at the Battle of the Chesapeake under Antoine Pierre de Clavel.{{sfnp|Lacour-Gayet|1910|p=648}}{{sfnp|Contenson|1934|p=159}}{{sfnp|Troude|1867|p=140}}

File:Combat du Scipion conte le London-Rossel de Cercy mg 5095c.jpg side into Torbay and London]]

In the action of 18 October 1782, under Captain Nicolas Henri de Grimouard, Scipion fought gallantly against two British ships of the line of 90 and 74 guns. Through good sailmanship, she managed to damage {{HMS|London|1766|6}} and escape, but was destroyed the next day after she was chased and ran aground.