Ponant fleet

Flotte du Ponant
The Brest Arsenal in 1776 By Louis-Nicolas Van Blarenberghe (1716 - 1794)
Active	1669 – 1792
Country	Kingdom of France
Branch	Royal French Navy
Type	Naval fleet
Role	Naval operations in the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean and Americas
Garrison/HQ	Arsenal of Brest, Le Havre, Rochefort, Lorient, Cherbourg and Brouage
Engagements	Franco-Dutch War Nine Years' War War of the Spanish Succession War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War American War of Independence

The Flotte du Ponant was the designation under the Ancien Regime for the naval vessels of the Royal French Navy in the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean and Americas, the latter principally in the French West Indies and New France. The fleet carried out operations such as asserting naval supremacy and protecting convoys. Its counterpart was the Levant Fleet, based in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Flotte du Ponant was created by Cardinal Richelieu. The fleet initially had three principal bases: Le Havre, Arsenal of Brest and Hiers-Brouage. Under Louis XIV, the arsenal of Brest was the principal base, supported by the arsenals of Rochefort and Lorient. Under Louis XVI the military port of Cherbourg was developed, with some elements only were recently completed on the outbreak of the French Revolution.

The fleet flagship was the most powerful ship at Brest. A number of different ships served in this role during the fleet's existence:

The first commander of what became the Flotte du Ponant was Aymar de Clermont-Chaste-Gessans, who was appointed Vice-admiral of Les Mers du Ponant. The command of the Levant and du Ponant fleets were entrusted on 12 November 1669 to two vice-admirals. The vice-admirals of the du Ponant fleet were: