Posted on 04/19/2015 4:16:16 AM PDT by WhiskeyX
A replica of the French navy frigate Hermione that brought General Lafayette to America to rally rebels fighting Britain in the US war of independence, will set sail for the United States again on Saturday, 235 years after the original crossing.
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
click the link and view a short, fascinating news report ... excellent photography
That’s pretty cool.
She’ll be in Yorktown VA (my home town) the first week of June.
The battle of Yorktown was in late September and Early October 1781. I like to tell folks if Washington had not defeated Cornwallis we would still be speaking English in this country.
I hope they aren’t taking the trip too lightly. A huge percentage of the ships that set sail back in the day were simply never heard from again. Something like 25% IIRC.
And 9 out of 10 Americans would ask “who is Lafayette?”
From that I heard this ship is quite a close replica and it requires some hard work on part of the crew to sail it. Anyway, there are modern communication and navigation equipment present so I think a loss of it is barely possible.
I sometimes wonder how things might have gone if not for supplies, money and arms from France, soldiers from there, and the French Navy bothering the Royal Navy.
We sure could use a Lafayette today.
ping
No mention of Rochambeau??
Big ocean. Little boat.
The key change is weather knowledge and communications. What this ship is dangerously lacking is experienced petty officers and hardy sailors. Interestingly, that was the same deficit the French Navy continually suffered against the British. This ship, like quite a few other French ships of war, was superior to most in its day.
But it was only after several YEARS at sea that the crew could get the most out of it. That was a luxury they were seldom allowed in nearly two centuries of war with the British.
I wish this crew clear skies and fair winds.
Oldplayer
Yeah, you’re probably right on that. Sad.
AND a Charles Martel!
I believe the Hermione was also used in the film adaptation of Master and Commander.
A FRench FRigate, FReepers!
Safe voyage, mon ami...
I noticed on the film that the ship has a number of modern mechanical aids that will help handling running rigging and spars. Since the ship will not to required to man her batteries, then the numbers of crew are only needed to handling the ship, and even then the speed and precision required during a fleet action won’t be necessary.
Experience will be their biggest deficiency and therefore they will need to steer well clear of danger. Modern navigation, weather, and radar will come in very handy and they are crossing at the best conditions of the year.
Like many Tall Ships of today such as the brig, LADY WASHINGTON, the frigate, HERMIONE, is equipped with an engine to make navigation safer.
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