French frigate Vénus (1808)
| File:Venus vs Ceylon.jpg Capture of HMS Ceylon | |
| Career (France) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Vénus |
| Namesake: | Venus |
| Ordered: | 26 March 1805 |
| Builder: | Le Havre |
| Laid down: | April 1808 |
| Launched: | 5 July 1806 |
| In service: | August 1808 |
| Captured: | 18 September 1810 |
| Career (UK) |  |
| Name: | HMS Nereide |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Junon class frigate |
| Displacement: | 1100 tonnes |
| Armament: | 40 x 18-pdr long guns |
| Armour: | Timber |
The Vénus was a Junon class frigate of the French Navy.
On 10 November 1808, she departed Cherbourg, bound for Île de France, where she served as Hamelin's flagship, leading a squadron also comprising the frigate Manche and the sloop Créole.
On the 29 and 30 December 1808, she captured and destroyed the East indiamen Hiran and Albion. On 4 November 1809, she captured the East Indiaman Lady Bentick and the American merchantman Samson.
She was central in the Action of 18 November 1809, where the squadron captured three armed East Indiamen.
From 20 to 26 August 1810, she took a minor part in the Battle of Grand Port.
On 17-18 September 1810, along with Victor, she captured the 40-gun HMS Ceylon, losing her fore-mast and her topgallant masts in the process. The next day, Vénus and Ceylon were taken by a British squadron composed of HMS Boadicea, HMS Otter and the brig HMS Staunch. Victor managed to escape.
Vénus was brought into British service as HMS Nereide, in honour of the defence of HMS Nereide at Grand Port. She subsequently took part in the blockade and surrender of Île de France.
References
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours 1 1671 - 1870. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.[page needed][self-published source?]
