French frigate Melpomène (1812)
 Clorinde, sister-ship of the French frigate Melpomène (1812) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France
| |
| Name: | Melpomène |
| Namesake: | Melpomene |
| Builder: | Toulon |
| Laid down: | 1811 |
| Launched: | 17 May 1812 |
| Out of service: | 30 April 1815 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Pallas-class frigate |
| Displacement: | 1080 tonnes |
| Length: | 46.93 metres (154.0 ft) |
| Beam: | 11.91 metres (39.1 ft) |
| Draught: | 5.9 metres (19 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 1950 m² of Sail |
| Complement: | 326 |
| Armament: |
|
| Armour: | Timber |
The Melpomène was a 44-gun frigate of the French Navy, designed by Sané. She was launched in 1812; in 1815 the Royal Navy captured and scuttled her.
Career
Melpomène was commissioned on 1 June 1812 in Toulon under Commander Charles Béville.[1] She took part in the Action of 5 November 1813, where she sustained light damage and had one wounded.
She was decommissioned on 21 February 1814, but reactivated in January 1815 under Captain Joseph Collet, at Toulon.
On 24 April, during the Hundred Days, she was sent to Napoli to transport Letizia Ramolino. Six days later, at 6a.m. on the 30th, she encountered the 74-gun HMS Rivoli off Ischia,[2] commanded by Captain Edward Stirling Dickson.[3] After a 35-minute fight, Melpomène struck to the ship of the line,[4] and was scuttled.[5]
In May, the frigate Dryade brought Ramolino to France, along with Prince Jérôme Bonaparte.[4][6]
Notes, sources and references
Notes
Sources
References
- Fonds Marine. Campagnes (opérations ; divisions et stations navales ; missions diverses). Inventaire de la sous-série Marine BB4. Tome deuxième : BB4 1 à 482 (1790-1826)
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours, 1671 - 1870. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. p. 304. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
- Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France 4. Challamel ainé. pp. 152–153.