The design for this warship comes from drawings that the famous engineer Jacques Noël Sané (born in Brest in 1740, died in 1831) had made for the 74 gun warship type, one of the most representative types of vessel of the French Navy at the end of the Monarchy, the Revolution and the Empire.

Sané designed the plans for the warships of 118, 80 and 74 guns which were approved by Louis XVI in 1772, following a bidding contest, with the purpose of standardizing naval constructions. During the thirty years that followed, Sané’s talent was hailed whether in France or England. One can cite the English historian W.James, who wrote on the Ville de Paris, an 118 gun man of war ; "not only was she the largest, but also the most elegant vessel ever seen and who, despite her enormous size, sailed like a frigate. ".

The Superbe, launched in Brest, in 1784, was part of the Fleet of Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse, was exposed to formidable storms for three weeks in January 1795. A number of vessels were seriously damaged.

From January 26 to 30 the Superbe was fighting against major water leaks which, in the end, could not be overcome and was finally evacuated under Admiral’s orders.

Specifications :
Model building : advanced skills and time required

Scale of drawing: 1/75th,
three plans, three photographs, one notice

Notice available in French or English