*British, 1744, Original 32LB Rammer Head from HMS Invincible, lost in the Solent 1758, with certificate of excavation*
15cm/6″ diameter, 14cm tall.
A wooden ramrod head recovered 19th Feb 1758 from the wreck of HMS Invincible, lost in the Solent 1758. Stamped ’32’.
HMS Invincible began its life as L’Invincible, constructed in Rochefort in 1744. However, its tenure in the French navy was short-lived, as the British fleet captured the ship at the first Battle of Cape Finisterre three years later. This capture was significant due to the ship’s advanced design, which offered numerous technological advantages over British vessels: it was faster under sail due to its wider bow and slender stern, its narrow rudder allowed for quick turns without reducing speed, and its long deck accommodated a greater number of heavier guns, resulting in a more powerful broadside. British shipwrights quickly adopted the Invincible’s design to build 74-gun ships, which became the backbone of the Royal Navy. By the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, 16 of the 27 ships in Nelson’s fleet were these ‘seventy-fours.’
She served with distinction in the fleet until 1758. On February 19th 1758, Admiral Boscawen’s fleet set sail from Portsmouth bound for Nova Scotia on a second attempt to take the French fort of Louisbourg. Invincible was meant to take part in this (ultimately) successful mission, but never left the Solent. She ran aground on the Horse Tail sandbank and despite all efforts to save her, rolled on her side and was lost. The wreck was rediscovered by a local fisherman Arthur Mack in 1979 and designated as a Historic Wreck in 1980. Remarkably well-preserved, it remains the best-preserved 18th-century warship found in UK waters.
*Condition*
This is a fascinating piece of maritime history in excellent used condition. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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