The French ship Bordelois was a 56-gun ship of the line, serving as the lead vessel of her class. Constructed with funding from a donation by the city of Bordeaux, she was built under the direction of engineer Léon Guignace, based on a design by Antoine Groignard. Launched and commissioned in July 1763, her arrival in Rochefort on September 6 marked her entry into the French Navy shortly after the conclusion of the Seven Years' War. Initially designed as a ship of the line, Bordelois was not completed in time to participate in the war. In 1768, she was razéed into a large frigate, a process that involved cutting down her upper decks to transform her into a more versatile vessel. Her spare timber was used to rebuild Ferme. From 1776 to 1778, she served as an East Indiaman, engaging in trade routes to the East Indies, after which she was repurposed as a hulk in Lorient. In 1779, amidst the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Franco-American alliance, Bordelois was sold and again razéed into a 40-gun frigate. This refit was financed by the States of Artois, and she was renamed États d'Artois. She was launched in January 1780 and commissioned in May of the same year. Her notable service included participation in the Battle of Dogger Bank, where her reputation as a formidable frigate was highlighted. She was described as the finest frigate then known, equipped with 28 18-pounder guns on her main deck, supplemented by heavy carronades on her quarterdeck and forecastle, and manned by around 300 men. Her service was cut short when she was captured by the British Royal Navy ship HMS Romney on July 1, 1780. She was subsequently taken into British service as HMS Artois, maintaining her reputation as a significant vessel in naval warfare during that period.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.