List of French sail frigates

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This article is a list of French sail frigates.

Classification of frigates

This table commences with mention of a few early French naval frigates of the 17th/early 18th century. This includes a number of privateer frigates which were not part of the Marine Royale; in addition a few frigates were built for the French East India Company (Compagnie des Indes) but these are not included below.

Early French naval frigates, until the 1740s, comprises two distinct groups. The larger types were the frégates-vaisseau, with batteries of guns spread over two decks; these were subdivided into frégates du premier ordre or vaisseau du quatrième rang (usually with a lower deck battery of 12-pounder guns, and an upper deck battery of either 8-pounder or 6-pounder guns) and frégates du deuxième ordre or vaisseau du cinquième rang (with a lower deck batter of 8-pounder guns, and an upper deck battery of either 6-pounder or 4-pounder guns). The smaller types were the frégates légères, with a single battery of (usually) 6-pounder or 4-pounder guns, plus a few small guns on its superstructure or gaillards. The 'modern' sail frigate, with its main battery on the upper deck, and no ports along the lower deck, emerged at the start of the 1740s.

The article categorises frigates according to the weight of the projectile fired by the main battery; the first 'true' frigates in the 1740s carried either 6-pounder or 8-pounder guns, but development soon standardised around the 12-pounder frigate, carrying thirteen pairs (occasionally fourteen pairs) of 12-pounder guns on the upper deck, and usually three pairs of 6-pounder guns on the quarterdeck and forecastle (collectively referred to as the "gaillards" in French). During the American Revolutionary War, larger types carrying an 18-pounder or even 24-pounder main battery (and more secondary guns on the gaillards) were introduced, and following the French Revolution these became predominant. Finally in the 1820s, a new type of 30-pounder armed frigate was brought into service.

The number of guns is as rated; many carried some obusiers (from 1800, carronades) or swivels also.

Frigates of Louis XIV (1661-1715)

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Under the classification system introduced by Colbert in 1669, as altered in 1671, the "Cinquième Rang" (Fifth Rate) comprised frigates, both single-decked and two-decked, carrying between 28 and 34 guns (increased in 1683 to between 30 and 36 guns). Below this Rate were the Frégates légères ("light frigates") carrying fewer guns.

Frigates of the 1st Order

These were two-decked ships, carrying 12-pounder guns in their lower deck battery. As Fourth Rate vessels (Quatrième Rang) they were classed as ships of the line.

Frigates of the 2nd Order

These carried 8-pounder guns in their lower deck battery.

Light Frigates (Frégates légères)

These were single-decked ships, carrying a battery of 6-pounder or 8-pounder guns on their sole gundeck.

Frigates under Louis XV (1715-1774)

6-pounder armed frigates

  • Thétis (one-off 26-gun design of 1722 by Jacques Poirier, with 20 x 6-pounder and 6 x 4-pounder guns, launched September 1722 at Le Havre) - broken up 1730.
  • Venus (one-off 26-gun design of 1722 by Jacques Poirier, with 20 x 6-pounder and 6 x 4-pounder guns, launched October 1723 at Le Havre) - wrecked 1745.
  • Victoire (one-off 22-gun design of 1736 by Blaise Geslain, with 22 x 6-pounder guns, rebuilt from frigate of 1704 and launched 1737 at Rochefort) - deleted 1743.
  • Subtile (one-off 20-gun design of 1740 by Jacques Poirier, with 20 x 6-pounder guns, launched June or July 1741 at Le Havre) - captured by British Navy 1746, but not added to the RN.
  • Panthère (one-off 20-gun design of 1743 by Jacques-Luc Coulomb, with 20 x 6-pounder guns, launched February 1744 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1745, becoming HMS Amazon.
  • Galathée Class (24-gun design of 1744 by Mathurin-Louis Geoffroy, with 24 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Galathée (launched 13 September 1744 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1758, but not added to the RN.
    • Mutine (launched 16 October 1744 at Brest) - taken to pieces at Martinique 1758.
  • Guirlande (one-off 22-gun design of 1756 by Pierre Salinoc, with 18 x 6-pounder and 4 x 4-pounder guns, launched January 1757 at Brest) - captured by British Navy in August 1758, becoming HMS Cygnet.
  • Terpsichore (one-off 28-gun design of 1757, with 22 x 6-pounder and 6 x 3-pounder guns, launched June 1758 at Dunkirk) - captured by British Navy in February 1760, becoming HMS Terpsichore.

8-pounder armed frigates

  • Astrée (30-gun design by Blaise Ollivier, with 22 x 8-pounder and 8 x 4-pounder guns - launched January 1728 at Brest) - broken up 1741.
  • Médée (26-gun design by Blaise Ollivier, with 26 x 8-pounder guns - launched February 1741 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 4 April 1744, but not added to RN, instead sold as privateer Boscawen.
  • Volage (24-gun design by Pierre Morineau, with 24 x 8-pounder guns - launched 1 April 1741 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy 4 April 1746, retaken by the French the following day and deleted 1753.
  • Emeraude Class (28-gun design by Chaillé, with 24 x 8pdrs and 4 x 4-pounder guns)
    • Emeraude (launched 10 June 1744 at Le Havre) - captured by British Navy 21 September 1757, becoming HMS Emerald.
    • Fine (launched 27 May 1744 at Le Havre) - wrecked December 1745 off Montrose.
  • Sirène Class (30-gun design of 1744 by Jacques-Luc Coulomb, with 26 x 8-pounder and 4 x 4-pounder guns)
    • Sirène (launched 24 September 1744 at Brest) - captured 1760 by RN, but not added to RN.
    • Renomée (launched 19 December 1744 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 27 September 1747, becoming HMS Renown.
  • Amphitrite Class (30-gun design of 1744 by ?Venard, with 26 x 8-pounder and 4 x 4-pounder guns)
  • Topaze Class (24/26-gun design by Jean-Joseph Ginoux, with 24/26 x 8-pounder guns)
    • Topaze (launched 30 October 1750 at Brest) - deleted 1775
    • Thétis (launched 17 November 1751 at Brest) - deleted 1777
    • Heroine (launched 20 December 1752 at Brest) - deleted 1766
  • Nymphe (24-gun design by Antoine Groignard, with 20 x 8-pounder and 4 x 4-pounder guns - launched early 1752 at Rochefort) - burnt to avoid capture 1757.
  • Comète Class (30-gun design by Joseph-Louis Ollivier, with 26 x 8-pounder and 4 x 4-pounder guns)
  • Pléiade (26-gun design by Joseph Coulomb, with 26 x 8-pounder guns - launched 17 November 1755 at Toulon) - sold 1786.
  • Licorne Class (30-gun design of 1754 by Jean Geoffroy, with 26 x 8-pounder and 4 x 4-pounder guns)
    • Licorne (launched December 1755 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1778, becoming HMS Licorne.
    • Sauvage (launched 3 January 1756 at Brest) - wrecked March 1759 off Poitou.
    • Hermine (launched May 1757 at Bayonne) - wrecked December 1761 off Vigo.
    • Opale (launched May 1757 at Bayonne) - wrecked July 1762 off San Domingo.
  • Minerve Class (30-gun design of 1754 by Jacques-Luc Coulomb, with 26 x 8-pounder and 4 x 4-pounder guns)
    • Minerve (launched 15 February 1756 at Toulon) - wrecked October 1762 off Villefranche.
    • Oiseau (launched 25 April 1757 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1762.
  • Blonde Class (32-gun design by Jean-Joseph Ginoux, with 26 x 8-pounder and 6 x 4-pounder guns)
    • Blonde (launched 23 August 1755 at Le Havre) - captured by British Navy 28 February 1760, becoming HMS Blonde.
    • Brune (launched 7 September 1755 at Le Havre) - captured by British Navy 30 January 1761, becoming HMS Brune..
    • Aigrette (launched 1756 at Le Havre) - condemned at Brest 1789.
    • Vestale (launched March 1756 at Le Havre) - captured by British Navy 8 January 1761, becoming HMS Flora.
    • Félicité (launched 1756 at Le Havre) - captured and burnt by British Navy 24 January 1761.
    • Two more to this design - Bouffonne and Malicieuse - were begun at Caen, but were cancelled in 1757.
  • Diligente (one-off 26-gun design of 1755 by Joseph-Louis Ollivier and Jacques-Luc Coulomb, with 26 x 8-pounder and 6 x 4-pounder guns, launched 28 April 1756 for the French East India Company, and purchased in April 1761 for the French Navy)
  • Mignonne (one-off 30-gun design of 1765 by Claud Saucillon, with 26 x 8-pounder and 4 x 4-pounder guns, launched 26 April 1767 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1794, becoming HMS Mignonne.
  • Zephyr (one-off 32-gun design of 1767 by Joseph-Louis Ollivier, with 26 x 8-pounder and 6 x 4-pounder guns, launched 23 October 1768 at Brest) - burnt by accident 1779.
  • Flore (one-off 32-gun design of 1768 by Antoine Groignard, with 26 x 8-pounder and 6 x 4-pounder guns, launched 11 November 1768 at Brest) - deleted 1787.
  • Oiseau (one-off 32-gun design of 1767 by François-Guillaume Clairin-Deslauriers, with 26 x 8-pounder and 6 x 4-pounder guns, launched 11 January 1769 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy 31 January 1779, becoming HMS Oiseau.
  • Alcmène Class (26-gun design of 1773 by Antoine Groignard, with 26 x 8-pounder guns - 6 x 4-pounder guns added later)
    • Alcmène (launched 14 June 1774 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 21 October 1779, becoming HMS Alcmene.
    • Aimable (launched 20 July 1776 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 19 April 1782, becoming HMS Aimable.

12-pounder armed frigates

  • Hermione (one-off 26-gun design of 1748 by Pierre Morineau, with 26 x 12-pounder guns, launched 28 April 1749 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy 1757, becoming HMS Unicorn's Prize.
  • Gracieuse (one-off 26-gun design of 1749 by Joseph Chapelle, with 26 x 12-pounder guns, launched 23 April 1750 at Toulon) - sold 1781.
  • Rose (one-off 30-gun design of 1749 by Joseph Chapelle, with 8 x 12-pounder and 22 x 8-pounder (or 6-pounder) guns, launched 23 April 1750 at Toulon) - sold 1781.
  • Danaé (one-off 40-gun design of 1756 by Jean-Joseph Ginoux, with 30 x 12-pounder and 10 x 6-pounder guns, launched 13 September 1756 at Le Havre) - captured by British Navy 1759, becoming HMS Danae.
  • Chimère (one-off 30-gun design of 1756 by Joseph Coulomb, with 26 x 12-pounder and 4 x 6-pounder guns, launched 6 February 1758 at Toulon) - sold 1783.
  • Hussar (ex-British Hussar (1757), captured 1762)
  • Terpsichore (one-off 30-gun design of 1762 by Antoine Groignard, with 30 x 12-pounder guns, launched 10 August 1763 at Indret) - deleted 1783.
  • Sultane (one-off 30-gun design of 1764 by Jean-Baptiste Doumet-Revest, with 26 x 12-pounder and 4 x 6-pounder guns, launched 28 June 1765 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1793 at Toulon and burnt.
  • Infidèle Class (32-gun design by Jean-Joseph Ginoux, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Infidèle (launched June 1765 at Le Havre)
    • Légère (launched June 1765 at Le Havre)
    • Sincère (launched 12 March 1766 at Le Havre)
    • Inconstante (launched 26 March 1766 at Le Havre)
    • Blanche (launched 20 October 1766 at Le Havre)
    • Enjouée (launched 4 November 1766 at Le Havre)
  • Boudeuse (one-off 32-gun design of 1765 by Jean-Hyacinthe Raffeau, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns, launched 25 March 1766 at Indret) - deleted 1800.
  • Dédaigneuse Class (32-gun design by Leon-Michel Guignace, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
  • Engageante (one-off 32-gun design by Jean-Francois Etienne, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns, launched 14 November 1766 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1794.
  • Atalante (one-off 32-gun design of 1767 by Joseph Coulomb, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns, launched 1 May 1768 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1794, becoming HMS Espion.
  • Indiscrète Class (34-gun design by Jean-Hyacinthe Raffeau, with 28 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
  • Renommée (one-off 40-gun design by Antoine Groignard, with 30 x 12-pounder and 10 x 8-pounder guns, launched 22 August 1767 at Brest) - deleted 1783.
  • Zéphyr (one-off 32-gun design by Joseph-Louis Ollivier, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns, launched 23 October 1768 at Brest) - burnt by accident 1779.
  • Aurore (one-off 34-gun design of 1766 by Jean-Denis Chevillard, with 26 x 12-pounder and 8 x 6-pounder guns, launched 23 November 1768 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy in August 1793 at Toulon.

24-pounder armed frigates

  • Pourvoyeuse Class (38-gun design by Louis Boux, with 26 x 24-pounder guns and 12 x 8-pounder guns)

Frigates of Louis XVI (1774-1792), the Revolutionary era and the First Empire (to 1815)

12-pounder armed frigates

  • Nymphe Class (32-gun design by Pierre-Augustin Lamothe, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Nymphe (launched 18 August 1777 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1780.
    • Andromaque (launched 24 December 1777 at Brest) - wrecked to avoid capture 1796.
    • Astrée (launched 16 May 1780 at Brest) - lost without trace in the Indian Ocean 1795.
  • Sibylle Class (32-gun design by Jacques-Noël Sané, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Sibylle (launched 30 August 1777 at Brest) - captured by the British Navy 1783.
    • Diane (launched 18 January 1779 at Saint Malo) - wrecked 1780.
    • Néréide (launched 31 May 1779 at Saint Malo) - captured by the British Navy 1797.
    • Fine (launched 11 August 1779 at Nantes) - wrecked 1794
    • Émeraude (launched 25 October 1779 at Nantes) - broken up 1797.
  • Charmante Class (32-gun design by Jean-Denis Chevillard, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Charmante (launched 30 August 1777 at Rochefort) - wrecked 1780.
    • Junon (launched March 1778 at Rochefort) - wrecked 1780.
    • Gracieuse (launched 19 May 1787 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy 1796.
    • Inconstante (launched 8 September 1790 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy 1793.
    • Hélene (launched 18 May 1791 at Rochefort) - captured by Spanish Navy 1793.
  • Concorde Class (32-gun design by Henri Chevillard, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Concorde (launched 3 September 1777 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy 1783.
    • Courageuse (launched 28 February 1778 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy 1799.
    • Hermione (launched 28 April 1779 at Rochefort) - wrecked 1793.
  • Fortunée (one-off 32-gun design by Pierre Forfait, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns, launched 26 December 1777 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1779.
  • Iphigénie Class (32-gun design by Léon-Michel Guignace, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns; Up to 6 x 36-pounder obusiers were later added)
    • Iphigénie (launched 16 October 1777 at Lorient) - captured by Spanish Navy 1795.
    • Surveillante (launched 26 March 1778 at Lorient) - wrecked 1797.
    • Résolue (launched 16 March 1778 at St Malo) - captured by British Navy 1798.
    • Gentille (launched 18 June 1778 at St Malo) - captured by British Navy 1795.
    • Amazone (launched 11 May 1778 at St Malo) - captured by British Navy 1782 but retaken next day; wrecked 1797.
    • Prudente (launched late March 1778 at St Malo) - captured by British Navy 1779.
    • Gloire (launched 9 July 1778 at St Malo) - captured by British Navy 1795
    • Bellone (launched 2 August 1778 at St Malo) - captured by British Navy 1798.
    • Médée (launched 23 September 1778 at St Malo) - captured by British East Indiamen 1800.
  • Magicienne Class (32-gun design by Joseph-Marie-Blaise Coulomb, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Magicienne (launched 1778 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1781.
    • Précieuse (launched 1778 at Toulon)
    • Sérieuse (launched 1779 at Toulon) - sunk at the Battle of Aboukir, 1798.
    • Lutine (launched 1779 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1793 - wrecked 1799, her ship's bell was salvaged and still hangs in Lloyds of London.
    • Vestale (launched 1780 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1799.
    • Alceste (launched 1780 at Toulon, 36 guns) - captured 1793 by British Navy but retaken by the French Boudeuse on 8 June 1794 , then captured again in 1799.
    • Iris (launched 1781 at Toulon) - burnt 1793.
    • Réunion (launched 1786 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1793.
    • Modeste (launched 1786 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1793.
    • Sensible (launched 1787 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1798.
    • Topaze (launched 1790 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1793.
    • Artémise (launched 1794 at Toulon) - sunk at the Battle of Aboukir, 1798.
  • Cérès Class (32-gun design by Charles-Etienne Bombelle, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Cérès (launched 1779 at Rochefort)
    • Fée (launched 1780 at Rochefort)
  • Galathée Class (32-gun design by Raymond-Antoine Haran, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Galathée (launched 1779 at Rochefort)
    • Railleuse (launched 1779 at Bordeaux); she was sold on 17 January 1798 at Rochefort. She became the privateer Egyptienne, which Hippomenes captured in 1804. The British took Egyptienne into service as HMS Antigua. Antigua served as a prison ship until she was scrapped in 1816.
    • Fleur de Lys (launched 1785 at Rochefort) - renamed Pique in June 1792 - captured by British Navy 1795.
    • Charente Inférieure (launched 1793 at Rochefort) - renamed Tribune in February 1794 - captured by British Navy 1796.
  • Capricieuse Class (32-gun design by Charles Segondat-Duvernet, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Capricieuse (i) (launched 1779 at Lorient) - captured 1780 by British Navy.
    • Friponne (launched 1780 at Lorient)
    • Capricieuse (ii) (launched 1786 at Lorient.
    • Prudente (launched 1790 at Lorient)
  • Vénus Class (design by Jacques-Noël Sané, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Vénus (launched 1780 at St Malo) - wrecked 1781.
    • Cléopâtre (launched 1781 at St Malo) - captured by British Navy 1793, renamed HMS Oiseau.
  • Félicité Class (32-gun design by Pierre-Alexandre Forfait, with 26 x 12-pounder and 6 x 6-pounder guns, and 2 x 36-pounder obusiers)
    • Félicité 34 guns (launched 1785 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1809, sold to Haiti and added as their Améthyste, captured 1811 by Haitian rebel forces and named Heureuse Révolution but retaken by British Navy 1812.
    • Calypso 32 guns (launched 1785 at Brest) - transferred to Spain 1793.
    • Fidèle 32 guns (launched 1789 at Le Havre) - condemned 1802, probably demolished 1813.
    • Fortunée 32 guns (launched 1791 at Le Havre) - burnt 1794 to avoid capture.
  • Sémillante Class (design by Pierre-Joseph Pénétreau, with 26 x 12pdr guns).
    • Sémillante 32 guns (launched 1791 at Lorient) - sold 1808 for commercial use.
    • Insurgente 32 guns (launched 1793 at Lorient - captured by American Navy 1799.
  • Charente Inférieure Class (design by Raymond-Antoine Haran)
  • Cocarde Nationale Class (40-gun design by Pierre Duhamel, with 28 x 12-pounder and 12 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Cocarde Nationale (launched 1794 at St Malo) - renamed Cocarde in June 1796.
    • Régénérée (launched 1794 at St Malo) - captured by British Navy 1801, renamed HMS Alexandria.
    • Bravoure (launched 1795 at St Servan)
  • Patriote Class (40-gun design by Raymond-Antoine Haran, with 28 x 12-pounder and 12 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Patriote (launched 1794 at Bayonne) - renamed Coquille in May 1795.
    • Fidèle (launched 1795 at Bayonne) - renamed Sirène in May 1795.
    • Franchise (launched 1797 at Bayonne)
    • Dédaigneuse (launched 1798 at Bayonne)
    • Thémis (launched 1799 at Bayonne)
  • Heureuse Class (38-gun design by Pierre Degay, with 26 x 12-pounder and 12 x 6-pounder guns)
    • Heureuse (launched 31 January 1798 at Basse-Indre, near Nantes)
    • Chiffonne (launched 31 August 1799 at Basse-Indre, near Nantes)
  • Psyché (42-gun design by Pierre Degay, with 24 x 15-pounder and 18 x 6-pounder guns, launched at Nantes and purchased by French Navy)


The above list excludes some 12-pounder frigates captured from the British Navy at various dates, or from other navies such as those of Venice in 1797.

  • Fox 28 (1773, ex-British privateer Fox, captured 1778) - sold 1778 (not added to French Navy)

18-pounder armed frigates

  • Until 1779 the standard armament on the frigate was the 12-pounder gun, but in that year Britain and France independently developed heavy frigates with a main battery of either 26 or 28 x 18-pounder guns. From 1786 the standard designs of Jacques-Noël Sané became predominant and - while other classes of frigate were built - Sané designs were used for the vast majority of frigates built thereafter up to 1814.
  • Hébé Class (design by Jacques-Noël Sané, with 26 x 18pdr guns).
    • Vénus 34 guns (launched 1782 at Brest) - wrecked 1788 in the Indian Ocean.
    • Hébé 38 guns (launched 1782 at Saint-Malo) - captured by British Navy 1782.
    • Dryade 36 guns (launched 1783 at Saint-Malo) - condemned 1801 and BU.
    • Proserpine 36 guns (launched 1785 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1796.
    • Sibylle 36 guns (launched 1791 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1794.
    • Carmagnole 38 guns (launched 1793 at Brest) - wrecked at Vlissingen 1800.
  • Danae Class (design by Charles Segonday-Duvernet, with 26 x 18pdr guns).
    • Danae 36 guns (launched 1782 at Lorient) - deleted 1796 or later.
    • Méduse 36 guns (launched 1782 at Lorient) - burnt by accident 1797.
    • Didon 36 guns (launched 1785 at Lorient) - burnt at Guadeloupe 1792.
  • Nymphe Class (design by Pierre-Augustin Lamothe, with 26 x 18pdr guns initially, although by 1793 carried 28 x 18pdr guns, plus 10 x 8pdr guns on the gaillards and 4 obusiers).
    • Nymphe 36 guns (launched 1782 at Brest) - wrecked at Noirmoutiers 1793.
    • Thétis 36 guns (launched 1788 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1808.
    • Cybèle 36 guns (launched 1789 at Brest) - sunk in action 1809.
    • Concorde 36 guns (launched 1791 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1800.
  • Minerve Class (design by Joseph-Marie-Blaise Coulomb, the first two with 26 x 18pdr guns initially, although by 1793 all carried 28 x 18pdr guns, plus 10 x 8pdr guns on the gaillards and 4 obusiers).
  • Valeureuse Class (design by Charles-Henri Le Tellier, with 26 x 18pdr guns.
    • Valeureuse (launched 29 July 1798 at Le Havre) - damaged in a storm 1806 and sold.
    • Infatigable 40 (1800) - Captured by Britain 1806, renamed Immortalité
  • Carrère Class (40-gun design by Pierre-Alexandre Forfait, with 28 x 18-pounder and 12 x 8pdr guns, plus 4 x 36-pounder obusiers)
    • Carrère (launched 20 August 1797 at Venice) - captured by British Navy in August 1801, becoming HMS Carrere.
    • Muiron (launched 22 August 1797 at Venice) - hulked 1807, deleted 1850.
  • Seine Class (38-gun design by Pierre-Alexandre Forfait, with 28 x 18-pounder and 10 x 8pdr guns, plus 4 x 36-pounder obusiers)
    • Seine (launched 1793 at Le Havre) - captured by British Navy 1798.
    • Révolutionnaire (launched 1794 at Le Havre) - captured by British Navy 1794.
    • Spartiate (launched 1794 at Le Havre) - renamed Pensée in May 1795.
    • Indienne (launched 1796 at Le Havre) - burnt 1809.
    • Furieuse (launched 1797 at Cherbourg)
  • Montagne (one-off design by Joseph-Marie-Blaise Coulomb) - renamed Voluntaire in July 1794.
  • Virginie Class (40-gun design by Jacques-Noël Sané, with 28 x 18-pounder and 12 x 8-pounder guns, plus 4 x 36-pounder obusiers)
    • Virginie (launched 1794 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1795, becoming HMS Virginie.
    • Courageuse (launched 1794 at Brest) - renamed Justice in April 1795 - captured by British Navy 1801, then handed over to Turks.
    • Harmonie (launched 1796 at Bordeaux)
    • Volontaire (launched 1796 at Bordeaux) - captured by British Navy 1806, becoming HMS Volontaire.
    • Cornélie (launched 1797 at Brest) - captured by Spanish Navy 1808.
    • Didon (launched 1799 at St Malo) - captured by British Navy 1805, becoming HMS Didon.
    • Rhin (launched 1802 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1806, becoming HMS Rhin.
    • Belle Poule (launched 1802 at Basse-Indre) - captured by British Navy 1806, becoming HMS Belle Poule.
    • Surveillante (launched 1802 at Basse-Indre) - captured by British Navy 1803, becoming HMS Surveillante.
    • Atalante (launched 1802 at St Malo) - burnt 1805.
  • Preneuse Class (40-gun design of 1794 by Raymond-Antoine Haran, with 28 x 18-pounder and 12 x 8-pounder guns)
    • Preneuse (launched 1794 at Rochefort) - destroyed by British Navy 1799.
    • Africaine (launched 1798 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy 1801, becoming HMS Africaine.
  • Diane 40-gun one-off design by Pierre-Joseph Pénétreau (launched 10 February 1796 at Toulon) - Captured by Britain 1800, becoming HMS Niobe.
  • Armide Class (40-gun design by Pierre Roland, with 28 x 18-pounder and 8 x 12-pounder guns and 4 x 36-pounder obusiers)
    • Armide (launched 24 April 1804 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy 1806, becoming HMS Armide.
    • Minerve (launched 9 September 1805 at Rochefort) - captured by British Navy 1806, becoming HMS Alceste.
    • Pénélope (launched 28 October 1806 at Bordeaux) - deleted 1826.
    • Flore (launched 11 November 1806 at Rochefort) - wrecked 1811.
    • Amphitrite (launched 11 April 1808 at Cherbourg) - burnt 1809.
    • Niémen (launched 8 November 1808 at Bordeaux) - captured by British Navy 1809, becoming HMS Niemen.
    • Saale (launched 28 October 1810 at Rochefort) - renamed Amphitrite September 1814, reverted to Saale March 1815, then Amphitrite again in July 1815 - deleted 1821.
    • Alcmène (launched 3 October 1811 at Cherbourg) - captured by British Navy 1814, becoming HMS Dunira, but quickly renamed HMS Immortalite.
    • Circé (launched 15 December 1811 at Rochefort) - deleted 1844.
    • Three more of this design - Androméde, Emeraude and Cornélie - were begun at Bayonne but never reached launch stage, while three more were completed post-war:
    • Antigone (launched 1816 at Bordeaux)
    • Cléopatre (launched 1817 at Cherbourg)
    • Magicienne (launched 1823 at Rochefort)
  • Créole (40-gun one-off design by Jacques-Augustin Lamothe with 28 x 18-pounder and 12 x 8-pounder guns) - captured by the British Navy 1803, becoming HMS Creole.
  • Uranie (40-gun one-off design by Charles Segondat-Duvernet with 28 x 18-pounder and 12 x 8-pounder guns) - renamed Tartu in November 1793, captured by the British Navy 1797, becoming HMS Uranie.
  • Vestale
  • Bienvenue 32
  • Gloire Class (40-gun design of 1802 by Pierre-Alexandre Forfait, with 28 x 18-pounder and 12 x 8-pounder guns)
    • Gloire (launched 20 July 1803 at Basse-Indre) - captured by the British Navy 1806, becoming HMS Gloire.
    • Président (launched 4 June 1804 at Basse-Indre) - captured by the British Navy 1806, becoming HMS President.
    • Topaze (launched 1 March 1805 at Basse-Indre) - captured by the British Navy 1809, becoming HMS Alcmene.
    • Vénus (launched 5 April 1806 at Le Havre) - captured by the British Navy 1810, becoming HMS Nereide.
    • Junon (launched 16 August 1806 at Le Havre) - captured by the British Navy 1809, becoming HMS Junon.
    • Calypso (launched 9 January 1807 at Lorient) - severely damaged 1809, sold 1813 or 1814.
    • Amazone (launched 20 July 1807 at Le Havre) - burnt by the British Navy 1811.
  • Consolante Class (40-gun design by François Pestel, with 28 x 18-pounder and 12 x 8-pounder guns)
    • Consolante (launched 22 July 1800 at Saint Malo)
    • Piémontaise (launched 15 November 1804 at Saint Servan)
    • Italienne (launched 15 August 1806 at Saint Servan)
    • Danae (launched 18 August 1807 at Genoa)
    • Bellone (launched February 1808 at Saint Servan)
    • Néréide (launched December 1808 at Saint Servan)
    • Illyrienne (launched 13 November 1811 at Saint Servan)
    • Galatée (launched 5 May 1812 at Genoa)
  • Milanaise Class (40-gun design by Charles Segondat, with 28 x 18-pounder and 12 x 8-pounder guns)
    • Milanaise (launched 1805 at Dunkirk) - renamed Sirène in August 1814.
    • Vistule (launched 1808 at Dunkirk) - renamed Danaé in August 1814.
    • Oder (launched 1813 at Dunkirk) - renamed Thémis August 1814, reverted to Oder March 1815, then Thémis again July 1815.
    • Perle (launched 1813 at Dunkirk)
  • Hortense Class (40-gun design of 1802 by Jacques-Noël Sané, with 28 x 18-pounder and 12 x 8-pounder guns)
    • Hortense (launched 3 July 1803 at Toulon) - broken up 1840
    • Hermione (launched 2 December 1804 at Toulon) - wrecked 1808
    • Pomone (launched 10 February 1805 at Genoa) - captured by British Navy 1811, becoming HMS Ambuscade.
    • Manche (launched 5 April 1806 at Cherbourg) - captured by British Navy 1810, but not added to RN.
    • Caroline (launched 1806 at Antwerp) - captured by British Navy 1809, becoming HMS Bourbonnaise.
    • Pauline (launched 1807 at Toulon) - renamed Bellone April 1814.
    • Corona (launched 1807 at Venice) - captured by British Navy 1811, becoming HMS Daedalus.
  • Pallas Class (40-gun design of 1805 by Jacques-Noël Sané, with 28 x 18-pounder and 12 x 8-pounder guns). This was the 'standard' frigate design of the French First Empire, numerically outweighing all other types.
    • Pallas (launched 1808 at Basse-Indre)
    • Elbe (launched 1808 at Basse-Indre) - renamed Calypso August 1814.
    • Amélie (launched 1808 at Toulon) - renamed Junon April 1814.
    • Clorinde (launched 1808 at Painboeuf) - captured by British Navy 1814, becoming HMS Aurora.
    • Renommée (launched 1808 at Basse-Indre) - captured by British Navy 1811, becoming HMS Java.
    • Elisa (launched 1808 at Le Havre) - wrecked 1810.
    • Favorita (launched 4 October 1808 at Venice for subsidiary "Italian" Navy) - to French Navy itself April 1810, renamed Favorite, burnt and destroyed by explosion at Battle of Lissa 1811.
    • Astrée (launched 1809 at Cherbourg) - captured by British Navy 1810, becoming HMS Pomone.
    • Fidèle (launched 1809 at Flushing after capture on stocks) - captured by British Navy 1809, becoming HMS Laurel.
    • Adrienne (launched 1809 at Toulon) - renamed Aurore April 1814, then Dauphine September 1829 but reverted to Aurore August 1830.
    • Nymphe (launched 1810 at Basse-Indre)
    • Iphigénie (launched 1810 at Cherbourg) - captured by British Navy 1814, becoming HMS Gloire.
    • Méduse (launched 1810 at Paimboeuf) - wrecked 1816.
    • Pregel (launched 1810 at St Malo) - renamed Eurydice August 1814.
    • Ariane (launched 1811 at Basse-Indre) - burnt 1812 to avoid capture.
    • Médée (launched 1811 at Genoa)- renamed Muiron 1850.
    • Andromaque (launched 1811 at Basse-Indre) - sunk in combat 1812.
    • Yssel (launched 1811 at Amsterdam) - handed over to new Dutch Navy 1814.
    • Carolina (launched 1811 at Naples)
    • Principessa di Bologna (ordered 1810 at Venice for subsidiary "Italian" Navy) - to French Navy itself April 1810, renamed Princesse de Bologne and launched 1811 - to Austrian Navy April 1814.
    • Gloire (launched 1811 at Le Havre)
    • Meuse (launched 1811 at Amsterdam) - handed over to new Dutch Navy 1814.
    • Terpsichore (launched 1812 at Antwerp) - captured by British Navy 1814, becoming HMS Modeste.
    • Erigone (launched 1812 at Antwerp)
    • Aréthuse (launched 1812 at Paimboeuf)
    • Jahde (launched 1812 at Rotterdam) - renamed Psyché August 1814.
    • Trave (launched 1812 at Amsterdam) - captured by British Navy 1813, becoming HMS Trave.
    • Weser (launched 1812 at Amsterdam) - captured by British Navy 1813, becoming HMS Weser.
    • Melpomene (launched 1812 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1815, becoming HMS Melpomene.
    • Rubis (launched 1812 at Basse-Indre) - wrecked 1813.
    • Ems (launched 1812 at Rotterdam) - renamed Africaine August 1814.
    • Atalante (started as the Euridyce, launched 1812 at Lorient) - renamed Duchesse d'Angoulême July 1814.[1]
    • Cérès (launched 1812 at Brest) - captured by British Navy 1814, becoming HMS Seine.
    • Piave (launched 1812 at Venice)
    • Dryade (launched 1812 at Genoa) - renamed Fleur de Lys in November 1814, reverted to Dryade March 1815 then Fleur de Lys again July 1815, finally Résolue August 1830.
    • Sultane (launched 30 May 1813 at Paimboeuf, near Nantes) - captured by British Navy 1814, becoming HMS Sultane.
    • Étoile (launched 28 July 1813 at Paimboeuf, near Nantes) - captured by British Navy 1814, becoming HMS Topaze.
    • Rancune (launched 30 September 1813 at Toulon) - renamed Néréide in August 1814.
    • Amphitrite (launched October 1814 at Venice) - seized by the Austrians at Venice's capture, becoming Austrian Navy's Anfitrite.
    • Cybele (launched 11 April 1815 at Le Havre) - renamed Remise 1850.
    • Duchesse de Berry (launched 25 August 1816 at Lorient) - renamed Victoire August 1830.
    • Constance (launched 2 September 1818 at Brest) - hulked 1836, broken up after 1837.
    • Thétis (launched 3 May 1819 at Toulon) - renamed Lanninon April 1865.
    • Astrée (launched 28 April 1820 at Lorient)
    • Armide (launched 1 May 1821 at Lorient)

18-pounder frigates captured or purchased by French Navu

  • Berouse 36/40 (c. 1764, ex-Maltese Santa Maria del Pilar, captured 1798) - BU c. 1798
  • Carthagenoise 40 (1782, ex-Maltese Santa Elizabetta, captured 1798) - Captured by Britain c. 1800, BU c. 1800
  • Success 32 (ex-British Success, captured 1801)
  • Avtroil 32 (ex-Russian, captured 1809, ex-Swedish, captured 1789/90)
  • Corcyre 44 (ex-Russian Legkii, captured 1809) - Reduced to 26 guns c. 1810, captured by Britain 1811
  • Former British 18-pounder frigates captured 1809-1810
    • Proserpine (ex British Proserpine, captured February 1809). Taken to pieces 1865.
    • Iphigénie (ex British Iphigenia, captured August 1810) - Retaken by British Navy December 1810.
    • Néreide (ex British Nereide, captured August 1810; this was originally French Néreide captured by British Navy in December 1797) - Retaken by British Navy December 1810.
    • Ceylon (ex British Ceylon, originally Bombay, captured September 1810) - Retaken by British Navy the following day.

24-pounder armed frigates

France experimented early with heavy frigates, with a pair being built in 1772 (however the 24-pounder guns of this pair were quickly replaced by 18-pounders in service). More were constructed in the French Revolution, but the Romaine Class of "frégate-bombardes", to which curious design (incorporating a heavy mortar into the design) at least thirteen vessels were ordered (24 were originally planned), proved over-gunned, and no further 24-pounder armed frigates were begun until after 1815.

  • Résistance Class (design by Pierre Degay, with 30 x 24-pounder guns and 20 x 12-pounder guns)
  • Forte Class (design by François Caro, with 30 x 24-pounder guns and 20 x 8-pounder guns)
    • Forte 50 (launched 26 September 1794 at Lorient) - captured by the British Navy 1799, becoming HMS Forte.
    • Egyptienne 50 (launched 17 July 1799 at Toulon) - captured by British Navy 1801, becoming HMS Egyptienne.
  • Romaine Class (design by Pierre-Alexandre Forfait, initially given 20 x 24-pounder guns and a 12-inch mortar, although all those completed were later armed or re-armed with 18-pounder guns and no mortar)
    • Romaine (launched 25 September 1794 at Le Havre)
    • Immortalité (launched 7 January 1795 at Lorient) - captured by the British Navy 1798, becoming HMS Immortalite.
    • Impatiente (launched 12 March 1795 at Lorient)
    • Incorruptible (launched 20 May 1795 at Dieppe)
    • Revanche (launched 31 August 1795 at Dieppe)
    • Libre (launched 11 February 1796 at Le Havre)
    • Comète (launched 11 March 1796 at Le Havre)
    • Désirée (launched 23 April 1796 at Dunkirk) - captured by the British Navy 1800, becoming HMS Desiree.
    • Poursuivante (launched 24 May 1796 at Dunkirk)
    • Three further vessels begun in 1795/98 were intended to be of this class - Pallas at Saint Malo, and Furieuse and Guerrière at Cherbourg; but all were completed as 18-pounder armed frigates (see above) A thirteenth vessel to this design - the Fatalité (ordered in 1793 at Saint Malo) was never completed.

Frigates under Louis XVIII and later (1815-1860)

24-pounder armed frigates

  • Jeanne d'Arc Class (1817 Programme)
    • Jeanne d'Arc (launched 1820 at Brest)
    • Clorinde (launched 1821 at Cherbourg)
    • Amazone (launched 1821 at Brest)
    • Vestale (launched 1822 at Rochefort)
    • Vénus (launched 1823 at Lorient)
    • Cérès (launched 1823 at Toulon)
    • Syrène (launched 1823 at Toulon)
    • Atalante (launched 1825 at Lorient)
    • Two further vessels begun in 1822 were intended to be of this class - Melpomène at Cherbourg and Didon at Toulon; but both were completed as 30-pounder armed frigates
  • Artémise Class (50-gun Second Rate type)
    • Artémise (launched 1828 at Lorient) - became pontoon at Lorient 1840, renamed Arc-en-Ciel, BU 1884.
    • Andromède (launched 1833 at Lorient) - became pontoon at Rochefort 1860, BU 1887.
    • Gloire (launched 1837 at Rochefort) - wrecked 1847 off Korea.
    • Poursuivante (launched 1844 at Toulon) - deleted 1889.
    • Virginie (launched 1842 at Rochefort) - became pontoon at Brest 1868, BU 1888.
    • Cléopatre (launched 1838 ar St Servan) - became ordnance magazine at Cherbourg 1869.
    • Danae (launched 1838 at St Servan) - fitted as steam-assisted frigate 1857.
    • Néreide (launched 1836 at Lorient) - became guardship at Brest 1896.
File:French ships at Danang 1858.jpg
French frigate Némésis at the Siege of Đà Nẵng, Vietnam in 1858.
    • Némésis (launched 1847 at Brest) - harbour service at Lorient 1866, BU 1889.
    • Zénobie (launched 1847 at Toulon) - fitted as steam-assisted frigate 1857.
    • Alceste (launched 1846 at Cherbourg) - became pontoon at Gabon 1891.
    • Pandore (launched 1846 at Brest) - fitted as steam-assisted frigate 1857.
    • Sibylle (launched 1847 at Toulon) - became pontoon at Toulon 1883.
    • Reine Blanche (launched 1837 at Cherbourg) - became pontoon at Rochefort 1885.
    • Another unit of this class - Clorinde at Brest - was cancelled in 1838.
  • Bellone (launched 1853 at Cherbourg) - fitted as steam-assisted frigate 1856.

30-pounder armed frigates

  • Iphigénie Class (60-gun First Rate type, 1822 design with 30 x 30-pounder guns, 28 x 30-pounder carronades and 2 x 18-pounder guns - later units had altered 60-gun armament)
    • Surveillante (launched 1825 at Lorient)
    • Iphigénie (launched 1827 at Toulon)
    • Terpsichore (launched 1827 at Brest)
    • Dryade (launched 1827 at Rochefort)
    • Belle Gabrielle (launched 1828 at Cherbourg) - renamed Indépendante 1830.
    • Herminie (launched 1828 at Lorient)
    • Melpomène (launched 1828 at Cherbourg)
    • Didon (launched 1828 at Toulon)
    • Uranie (launched 1832 at Toulon)
    • Belle Poule (launched 1834 at Cherbourg)
    • Sémillante (launched 1841 at Lorient) - wrecked 1855.
    • Andromaque (launched 1841 at Lorient)
    • Forte (launched 1841 at Cherbourg)
    • Renommée (launched 1847 at Rochefort) - fitted as steam-assisted frigate 1856.
    • Persévérante (launched 1847 at Brest)
    • Vengeance (launched 1848 at Lorient)
    • Entreprenante (launched 1858 at Lorient)- completed as a steam-assisted troopship 1859
  • Pénélope Class (40-gun Third Rate type, 1830 design with 22 x 30-pounder guns, 14 x 30-pounder carronades and 4 x 30-pounder obusiers)
    • Erigone (launched 1836 at St Servan)
    • Africaine (launched 1839 at St Servan)
    • Jeanne d'Arc (launched 1839 at Lorient)
    • Pénélope (launched 1840 at Lorient)
    • Chartre (launched 1842 at Brest)
    • Psyché (launched 1844 at Brest)
    • Clorinde (launched 1845 at Cherbourg) - fitted as steam-assisted frigate 1856.
    • Héliopolis (launched 1847 at Rochefort)
    • Algérie (launched 1848 at Rochefort)
    • Isis (launched 1851 at Brest)

References

  1. ↑ http://www.shipscribe.com/marvap/ships16.html
  • Frégate - Marine de France 1650-1850 - Jean Boudriot and Hubert Berti, Editions ANCRE, Paris, 1992 ISBN 2903179115
  • Nomenclature des navires francais - Alain Demerliac, Editions OMEGA, Nice - series of volumes: (i) 1661-1715 (ii) 1715-1774 (iii) 1774-1792 (iv) 1789-1799 (v) 1800-1815
  • A history of the French navy, from its beginnings to the present day (1973) - E. H. Jenkins ISBN 0356041964
  • Conway's All the world's fighting ships, 1860-1905 (1979) - Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0851771335
  • Warships of the Napoleonic Era (1999) - Robert Gardiner ISBN 1861761171
  • The 50-gun ship (1997) - Rif Winfield ISBN 1861760256
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