HMS Implacable was originally the French Navy’s Téméraire-class ship of the line Duguay-Trouin, launched in 1800 that survived the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and later captured by the British during the Battle of Cape Otegal.
During the Anglo-Russian war (2 September 1807- 18 July 1812) HMS Implacable helped capture the Imperial Russian ship of the line Vsevolod. When Implacable was being used as a Royal Navy training ship she was the oldest ship in the RN after HMS Victory, Lord Nelson’s flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar. After her decommission this newsreel dated 1949 shows HMS Implacable being scuttled whilst flying both the Royal Navy White Ensign and the French flag as she sank.
Alan Malcher 