Cybèle and Prudente fighting HMS Centurion and HMS Diomede. |
|
| Career (France) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Prudente |
| Namesake: | Prudency |
| Builder: | Lorient |
| Laid down: | May 1789 |
| Launched: | 21 September 1790 |
| In service: | October 1790 |
| Captured: | 9 February 1799 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Capricieuse class frigate |
| Displacement: | 600 tonnes |
| Length: | 44.2 metres |
| Beam: | 11.2 metres |
| Draught: | 5.5 metres |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Armament: | 32 guns |
| Armour: | Timber |
The Prudente was a 32-gun Capricieuse class frigate frigate of the French Navy.
In 1791, under lieutenant Villaret de Joyeuse, she was tasked with ferrying troops to Cap Français and with police duty in Santo Domingo. In 1793, she returned to France, escorting a convoy from Terre-Neuve, under Villaret de Joyeuse, by then promoted to Captain.
On 22 October 1794, soon after the outbreak of the war with England, and along with the 40-gun Cybèle and the brig Coureur, she fought Centurion and HMS Diomede, who blockaded Île de France. The French ships managed to drive away the British ships.
She served a time at Mauritius, before being sold and becoming a privateer.
Daedalus captured Prudente on 9 February 1799 near Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope. At daybreak Daedalus spotted two sails and gave chase to the larger vessel, catching up with her at about 12:30. The quarry struck after an action of almost an hour. She proved to be the Prudente, which Captain H.L. Ball referred to as a French National frigate, rather than a privateer. She was pierced for 42 guns but was armed with twenty-six 12-pounders on her main-deck and two long 6-pounders and two brass howitzers on her quarterdeck. She had a crew of 297 men. In the fight, Daedalus lost two men killed and 12 wounded. Prudente lost 27 men killed and 22 wounded. The ship in her company, which escaped, was an American vessel that she had taken as a prize.[1]