French frigate Bellone (1779)

For other ships of the same name, see French ship Bellone and HMS Proserpine.
Battle between Bellone and HMS Foudroyant
Fight between Bellone and HMS Foudroyant at the Battle of Tory Island
Career (France)
Name: Bellone
Namesake: Bellona
Builder: Saint Malo
Laid down: January 1778
Launched: 22 August 1778
Commissioned: February 1779
Captured: 12 October 1798
Career (UK)
Name: Proserpine
Acquired: 12 October 1798
Fate: Hulk in Plymouth
Broken up 1806
General characteristics
Class and type:Iphigénie-class frigate
Displacement:1,150 tons (French)
Length:44.2 m (145 ft)
Beam:11.2 m (37 ft)
Draught:4.9 m (16 ft)
Propulsion:Sail
Armament:32 guns:[1]

UD: 28 × 18-pounder long guns

Spardeck:4 × 6-pounder long guns

The Bellone was an Iphigénie-class 32-gun frigate of the French Navy. She was one of the French ships with a copper-covered hull.

French service

In 1782, she fought against HMS Coventry. In June she captured a British "both", in the roads of Negapatnam that the French took into service as Negapatnam. The next month Negapatnam was at Pondicherry with the French squadron under Admiral Suffren, but her subsequent disposition is unknown.[2]

Bellone took part in the Glorious First of June and in the Expédition d'Irlande.

Capture and fate

She was captured on 12 October 1798 at the Battle of Tory Island by HMS Melampus [3] and HMS Ethalion,[4] and was commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Proserpine. Although officially 'under repair' at Plymouth, she was never more than a hulk, and in 1806 she was broken up.[5]

External links

Citations

  1. ↑ The number of guns was reported to be 36 or even 40. Study of the wreck confirms that the Bellone had 32.
  2. ↑ Demerliac (1996), p.127, #911.
  3. ↑ "Naval Database - HMS Melampus". Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  4. ↑ "Naval Database - HMS Ethalion". Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  5. ↑ "Age of Nelson Website - HMS Proserpine". Retrieved 2008-02-19.

References