Yet after initial success, rising star in the French army Napoleon directed clinical artillery fire to drive the British away, destroying 10 of their ships.

One battleship escaped Toulon however: HMS Colossus.

The battleship boasted 74 guns on three decks and carried a crew of nearly 800 men.

Colossus participated in the devastating Battle of Groix in 1795 where it sustained heavy damage and the loss of several men, and then suffered further damage in the Battle of Cape Vincent.

Colossus was sent to Naples to collect the wounded from the Battle of the Nile but encountered fierce storms in 1798 and sought refuge in the Scilly Isles off England's south-west coast.

The ship was destroyed, sinking to the seabed where it would remain until 1974 when divers discovered eight cannons.

Five were retained by Roger Smith, who brought them to Tasmania. One was provided to Penny Royal Gunpowder Mills where it takes part in displays.

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Another three were recently restored and, now, are up for auction.

Armitage Auctions auctioneer Neil O'Brien said the three cannons - one 32-pound, and two 24-pound - were among the most unique items the Launceston site had seen.

"We've certainly never had original cannons like this from that sort of period," he said.

"They still have the original cannon balls inside as well.

"In the 31 years I've been here I've never seen anything like these."

Auctioneers had difficulty determining a value for the cannons, but suspected they could sell for between $4000 and $5000.

"Just imagine having them mounted in your front garden so when visitors come, they look straight down into these cannons," Mr O'Brien said.

The auction will take place at Armitage Auctions on Goodman Court, Invermay, from 9.30am on Wednesday.