| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Sylphide |
| Builder | Indret [1] |
| Laid down | July 1762 [1] |
| Launched | July 1763 [1] |
| Commissioned | October 1763 [1] |
| Fate | Wrecked near Camaret on 2 September 1784 [1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 190 tonnes [1] |
| Length | 29.9 metres [1] |
| Beam | 8.0 metres [1] |
| Draught | 3.7 metres [1] |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Armament | 12 4-pounder guns [1] |
| Armour | Timber |
Sylphide (also written Silphide) [1] was a 12-gun corvette of the French Navy.
From 1776 to 1777, she was under Lieutenant Bidé de Maurville. [2]
During the War of American Independence, Sylphide served in the Indian Ocean in the squadron under Suffren, ferrying despatches. In early July 1782, during the run-up of the Battle of Negapatam, Suffren chose her and Diligent to bring news of the outcome of the battle to Isle de France. [3] After the battle, her rigging was dismantled to replace parts on Suffren's ships of the line, and she received herself parts from the rigging of Yarmouth and from another prize as replacement. [4]
From July 1784, she was used as a transport. On 2 September, she was wrecked at Pointe du Toulinguet [1]
The Battle of Negapatam was the third in a series of battles fought between a British fleet, under Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, and a French fleet, under the Bailli de Suffren, off the coast of India during the American Revolutionary War. The battle was fought on 6 July 1782. Though the battle was indecisive, Suffren was stopped in his goal by Hughes and withdrew to Cuddalore, while the British remained in control of Negapatam.
Artésien ('Artesian') was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. She was funded by a don des vaisseaux donation from the Estates of Artois.
The Vengeur was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy designed by Antoine Groignard. She saw action with Bailli de Suffren during the American War of Independence.
Orient was an 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, built by Antoine Groignard.
Admiral comte Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez, bailli de Suffren, Château de Saint-Cannat) was a French Navy officer and admiral. Beginning his career during the War of the Austrian Succession, he fought in the Seven Years' War, where he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Lagos. Promoted to captain in 1772, he was one of the aids of Admiral d'Estaing during the Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War, notably taking part in the Siege of Savannah.
The Pourvoyeuse was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. She is notable as one of the earliest attempts at building a frigate armed with 24-pounders on the artillery deck, rather than the 18-pounders typical of the day.
Brillant was a 64-gun Solitaire-class ship of the line of the French Navy.
Ajax was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.
Sévère was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.
Saint Michel was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.
Subtile was a 24-gun corvette of the French Navy
Salomon was merchantman built in Nantes that the French Royal Navy purchased and commissioned as a fluyt. In 1781, she was reclassified as a fireship and renamed Pulvérisateur, and served in the Indian Ocean in Suffren's squadron under capitaine de brûlot Villaret de Joyeuse.
Diligent, was the Bengal Pilot Service schooner Tannah, that the Bombay Dockyard had launched in 1775 for the Bengal Pilot Service of the British East India Company (EIC). The French Navy captured her in 1781. She then became a 10-gun corvette of the French Navy, but sank in 1782.
Étienne-François de Cillart de Villeneuve was a French aristocrat and Navy officer, brother to Armand-François Cillart de Surville and Jean-Marie de Villeneuve Cillart.
Armand de Saint-Félix was a French Navy officer and admiral.
Yarmouth was a British merchantman operating on the coast of India in 1782. The French frigate Fine captured her in June 1782. She went on the serve as a storeship in the squadron under Suffren.
François-Joseph-Hippolyte Bidé de Maurville was a French Navy officer.
René Joseph Bouvet de Précourt was a French Navy officer. He was captain of the 64-gun Ajax in Suffren's squadron in the Indian Ocean during the War of American Independence, and fought at the Battle of Sadras on 17 February 1782.
Jean Baptiste Christy de La Pallière was a French Navy officer. He notably he captained the 74-gun Orient at the Battle of Sadras on 17 February 1782, at the Battle of Providien on 12 April 1782, at the Battle of Negapatam on 6 July 1782, and at the Battle of Trincomalee from 25 August to 3 September 1782.
Charles Gaspard Hyacinthe de Forbin La Barben was a French Navy officer. He fought in the Indian Ocean under Suffren during the War of American Independence, captaining the 64-gun Vengeur at the Battle of Porto Praya on 16 April 1781, the Battle of Sadras on 17 February 1782, the Battle of Providien on 12 April 1782, the Battle of Negapatam on 6 July 1782, and the Battle of Trincomalee from 25 August to 3 September 1782. He was one of the officers that Suffren dismissed in the wake of the Battle of Trincomalee.