Hercule-class ship of the line

1/40th-scale model of the 100-gun Hercule on display at the Musée national de la Marine.
Class overview
NameHercule
BuildersToulon, Brest
Operators French Navy
Preceded bySuffren class
Succeeded by
Completed13
Cancelled2
General characteristics
Class and typeHercule class
Displacement4440 tonnes
Length62.50 m (205 ft 1 in)
Beam16.20 m (53 ft 2 in)
Draught8.23 m (27 ft 0 in)
Propulsion3,150 m2 (33,900 sq ft) of sails
Complement955 men
Armament
  • 100 guns, including:
  • 32 × long 30-pounders (lower deck)
  • 30 × short 30-pounders (middle deck)
  • 30 × 30-pounder carronades (upper deck)
  • 4 × long 18-pounders (upper deck)
ArmourTimber

The Hercule class was a late type of 100-gun ships of the line of the French Navy. They were the second strongest of four ranks of ships of the line designed by the Commission de Paris. While the first units were classical straight-walled ships of the line, next ones were gradually converted to steam, and the last one was built with an engine.