History | |
---|---|
![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Name | Fine |
Namesake | clever |
Builder | Rochefort. Plans by Sané |
Laid down | October 1778 [1] |
Launched | 11 August 1779 [1] |
Commissioned | October 1779 [1] |
Fate | Wrecked in Chesapeake Bay in November 1793 |
General characteristics [2] [3] | |
Class and type | Sybille-class |
Displacement | 1,100 tons (French) |
Tons burthen | 892 22⁄94 (Builder's Old Measurement) |
Length |
|
Beam | 11.21 m (36.8 ft) |
Draught | 5.36 m (17.6 ft) (laden) |
Propulsion | Sail |
Complement | 290 [1] |
Armament |
|
Armour | Timber |
Fine was a Sybille class 32-gun, copper-hulled, frigate of the French Navy.
On 4 December 1778, Fine departed Brest under Lieutenant Saint-Félix, [4] bound for the Cape of Good Hope and ultimately for Isle de France (Mauritius), carrying Étienne Claude Chevreau ,Intendant des îles de France et de Bourbon . [1]
On 16 April 1781, she was part of Suffren's squadron at the Battle of Porto Praya, although she did not take part in the action. [1] She took part in several actions in the Indian Ocean. In November 1781, Captain Périer de Salvert took command. [5] Fine was part of the French frigate screen at the Battle of Providien, where she collided with HMS Isis before unentangling herself, then ran aground, then caught fire, but managed to save herself. [6] In June, Fine captured the 24-gun storeship Yarmouth, carrying rice, field artillery and nine Army officers. [7]
On 23 June, Fine captured the East Indianman Fortitude. [8] When the French captured her they freed some eight men from Artésien , who had been part of the French prize crew at the Battle of Porto Praya. Fine brought Fortitude to Cuddalore, where Suffren's squadron was anchored, arriving there on 29 June. [9]
On 14 July 1782, [Note 1] following the Battle of Negapatam, Suffren appointed La Corne to Fine, [10] [4] [Note 2] [11] [12] replacing Salvert whom he had promoted to Flamand. [13] On 28 July 1782, Fine joined Suffren's squadron at Bahour, where a diplomatic meeting with Hyder Ali was taking place. She was bringing as prize a British brig carrying a cargo of rice, as well as British colonel Horn, who was to take command of the Army of Thanjavur. [14] On 2 August 1782, Fine was at Tharangambadi with spare anchors for the squadron. [15]
On 8 August, as the squadron was sailing for the oncoming Battle of Trincomalee, Fine collided with Héros, snaping Héros' bowsprit. [12] [Note 3]
On 23 September 1782, [10] L'Abbé de Saint-Georges took command of Fine. [4]
In January 1783, Fine was under Chevalier de Saint-Georges. She intercepted the East Indiaman Bland-Fort but engaged from too far away and wasted her ammunition in a futile attempt to stop her. Three days after, Fine was thus unable to engage two other Indiamen when they passed nearby. Bland-Fort would be captured on 12 January by M. d'Herly, captaining Coventry, herself captured and recommissioned in the French Royal Navy that very day. [16]
On 5 February 1791, under Augustin Truguet (1753–1793), [17] she departed Brest, as part of a squadron bound for Martinique. [1]
In October 1793, she departed for France. [1]
Fine was wrecked in November 1793 in Chesapeake Bay. [1]
Annibal was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. She was designed by Jacques-Noël Sané, and was one of the earliest of his works. She was built at Brest in 1778.
Bellone was an Iphigénie-class 32-gun frigate of the French Navy on plans by Léon-Michel Guignace. She took part in the American Revolutionary War in the Indian Ocean with the squadron under Suffren, and later in the French Revolutionary Wars. She was present at the Glorious First of June.
The Illustre was a 74-gun Magnanime class ship of the line of the French Navy. She took part in the War of American Independence and in the French Revolutionary Wars. Damaged beyond repairs during the Expédition d'Irlande, she was scuttled on 30 December 1796.
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.
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.
Saint Michel was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.
Bizarre was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. She was present at two major battles, and was wrecked in 1782.
HMS Fortune was a British 14-gun sloop launched in 1778 that the French captured in April 1780. She then served with the French navy under the same name.
Armand de Saint-Félix was a French Navy officer and admiral.
Louis-Hyacinte de Cavelier, chevalier de Cuverville 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.
Anne René Augustin de Roscanvec de La Landelle was a French Navy officer. He notably captained the 64-gun Bizarre 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.
Beaumont le Maître was a French Navy officer. He fought in the Indian Ocean under Suffren during the War of American Independence, notably captaining the 64-gun Ajax at the Battle of Trincomalee from 25 August to 3 September 1782 and Saint Michel at the Battle of Cuddalore on 20 June 1783.
Félix d'Hesmivy de Moissac was a French Navy officer. He fought in the War of American Independence, earning a founding membership in the Society of the Cincinnati, and taking part in the French operations in the Indian Ocean as Suffren's flag captain.
Bernard-Manuel Lusignan was a French Navy officer. He fought in the War of American Independence, and taking part in the French operations in the Indian Ocean under Suffren.
Péan de la Villehunault was a French Navy officer. He fought in the War of American Independence, and taking part in the French operations in the Indian Ocean under Suffren.
Jean-Paul de Ruyter-Werfusé was a French Navy officer. He notably captained the 40-gun frigate Pourvoyeuse and the 50-gun Petit Annibal in Suffren's squadron during the Anglo-French War.
François-Josué de la Corne de Chapt (1750–1800) was a Canadian who served as an officer in the French Navy. He served in the War of American Independence.