Client – National Museum of the Royal Navy/Rocketbox
In collaboration with – Bournemouth University Maritime Archaeology/MAST/Pascoe Archaeology
Funding – National Lottery Heritage Fund
CGI – Grant Cox (ArtasMedia)
Software – 3DS Max/Vray/Photoshop/CloudTour
In late 2020, we were commissioned to work on an interactive to highlight recent excavation data from underwater surveys on the HMS Invincible. Using 3DS Max and then our HTML5 online viewer we created geometry that was then imported into our CloudTour software and set to work creating an immersive and dynamic touchscreen experience that plays native within a browser.
The Invincible was one of the first 74-gun ships conceived by the French in the mid 18th Century. She was constructed on the banks of the River Cherante at Rochefort, France, under the supervision of the shipwright Morineau and launched on the 21st October 1744. Captured by the English Admiral Anson in 1747, she would go on to inspire ship design throughout the Navy.
Invincible, was longer and broader than British ships of a similar class, carrying her main armament on two decks as opposed to three. This gave her superior speed and manoeuvrability under sail. Also, her main gun-deck was six feet above the waterline compared to three or four feet on British ships. This meant her heaviest guns could remain in action even in high seas, whereas British ships would have to close ports.
Invincible would go onto influence and revolutionise British warship design and her lines would even become a template for the construction of two 74s the Valiant and the Triumph. Her significance can be measured by the fact over 50 years later at the battle of Trafalgar 50% of the ships on all sides were of the 74-gun type.
See the exhibition at the The National Museum of the Royal Navy/Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Or check out the Tour yourself here!
