Les canons et le mémorial - Bonifacio - France
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Alfouine
N 41° 23.172 E 009° 09.057
32T E 512620 N 4581641
Ces canons faisaient partie d'un ensemble défensif permettant de contrôler le détroit et d'empêcher toute approche des côtes bonifaciennes par les navires ennemis. Un mémorial aux marins de la sémillante morts en mer se trouve au milieu.
Waymark Code: WM15Q72
Location: Corse, France
Date Posted: 02/08/2022
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member pmaupin
Views: 1

These cannons were part of a defensive set allowing to control the strait and to prevent any approach of the Bonifacian coasts by the enemy ships. A memorial to the sailors who died at sea is located in the middle.


Sémillante - Trois-mâts

Credits

Date du naufrage
15 février 1855

Mise sur cale à Lorient le 19 mars 1827, la Sémillante est une frégate à trois mâts, en bois et à voile, d’une longueur de 54 mètres sur 14 mètres de large, avec une hauteur de mâts de 55 mètres. Déplaçant 2 600 tonnes elle est armée de 56 canons et son équipage se compose, normalement, de 12 officiers et 510 officiers-mariniers et marins.

La frégate navigue très peu jusqu’en 1854, date à laquelle elle rejoint la flotte qui opére en Baltique aux côtés de la marine anglaise.

En septembre de la même année, elle est transformée en transport de troupes, à l'arsenal de Brest. Puis en janvier 1855, elle rejoint Toulon avec un équipage réduit à 300 hommes.

La Sémillante quitte Toulon le 14 février 1855, sous les ordres du commandant JUGAN, pour la Crimée, en Mer Noire, afin d'apporter aux forces françaises des vivres, des vêtements, des renforts de troupes et du matériel militaire, soit 400 tonnes de cargaison.

Le naufrage
Le bâtiment appareille sous un vent violent et durant la nuit les conditions météorologiques s’aggravent encore. Au large de la Sardaigne, la frégate est prise dans une violente tempête et se déroute vers les bouches de Bonifacio, zone infestée de rochers et de brisants. Vers 10 heures, le 15 février 1855, le gardien du phare de la Testa aperçoit le bâtiment qui navigue avec très peu de voilure. Vers midi, la frégate vient se briser sur la Roche du Briquet à l’extrémité sud-ouest des îles de Lavezzi. La Sémillante coule dans la nuit entraînant au fond les 685 soldats et marins. Tous périrent et un tiers d'entre eux ne furent jamais retrouvés. Le courant ramena sur la côte 532 corps déchiquetés et méconnaissables. Seuls le capitaine et un aumônier purent être identifiés. Tous reposent dans deux cimetières de l'île principale.


Sémillante - Three-masted ship

Date of the shipwreck
February 15, 1855

La Sémillante was launched in Lorient on March 19, 1827. She was a three-masted frigate, made of wood and under sail, 54 meters long and 14 meters wide, with a mast height of 55 meters. Displacing 2,600 tons, it is armed with 56 cannons and its crew normally consists of 12 officers and 510 officers and sailors.

The frigate sailed very little until 1854, when she joined the fleet operating in the Baltic Sea alongside the British Navy.

In September of the same year, she was transformed into a troop transport at the Brest arsenal. Then in January 1855, she joined Toulon with a crew reduced to 300 men.

La Sémillante left Toulon on 14 February 1855, under the command of Commander JUGAN, for the Crimea, in the Black Sea, to bring food, clothing, troops and military equipment to the French forces, that is to say 400 tons of cargo.

The shipwreck
The ship set sail in strong winds and during the night the weather conditions worsened. Off the coast of Sardinia, the frigate was caught in a violent storm and was routed towards the Bonifacio mouths, an area infested with rocks and breakers. Around 10 am, on February 15, 1855, the keeper of the Testa lighthouse saw the ship sailing with very little sail. Around noon, the frigate broke up on the Roche du Briquet at the south-western end of the Lavezzi islands. The Sémillante sank during the night, dragging the 685 soldiers and sailors to the bottom. All of them perished and a third of them were never found. The current brought 532 shredded and unrecognizable bodies to the coast. Only the captain and a chaplain could be identified. All are buried in two cemeteries on the main island.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

What type of artillery is this?: Cast iron cannon

Where is this artillery located?: Park

Artillery is no longer operational: no

Still may work: no

What military of the world used this device?: Not listed

Date artillery was in use: Not listed

Date artillery was placed on display: Not listed

Parking location to view this Waymark: Not Listed

Cost?: Not Listed

Are there any geocaches at this location?: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
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