Hortense-class frigate

Model of the Hortense, on display at Toulon naval museum
Class overview
Name:	Hortense
Operators:	French Navy
Preceded by:	Milanaise class
Succeeded by:	Pallas class
Planned:	7
Completed:	7
General characteristics
Length:	46.77 metres
Beam:	11.91 metres
Draught:	5.9 metres
Propulsion:	1950 m² of Sail
Complement:	326
Armament:	nominally 40 guns in practice carried either 44 or 46 guns: upper deck - 28 long 18-pounders quarter deck & forecastle ("les gaillards") - 8 long 8-pounders and 8 36-pounder carronades (there were several variant ordnance fits on the gaillards)
Armour:	Timber

Jacques-Noël Sané designed the Hortense class 40-gun frigates of the French Navy in 1802. Seven frigates were built to this new design between 1803 and 1807. Of the seven, one was wrecked at sea and the British Royal Navy captured four, taking three into service.

• Hortense

Builder: Toulon

Ordered: 1802

Launched: 3 July 1803

Fate: Deleted 1840

• Hermione

Builder: Toulon

Ordered: 1803 as République Italienne, renamed Hermione December 1803

Launched: 2 December 1804

Fate: Wrecked August 1808.

• Pomone

Builder: Genoa

Ordered:

Launched: 10 February 1805

Fate: Captured by the British Navy in November 1811, becoming HMS Ambuscade.

• Manche

Builder: Cherbourg

Ordered:

Launched: 5 April 1806

Fate: Captured by the British Navy in December 1810, but not added to that navy.

• Caroline

Builder: Antwerp

Ordered:

Launched: 15 August 1806

Fate: Captured by the British Navy in September 1809, becoming HMS Bourbonnaise.

• Pauline

Builder: Toulon

Ordered:

Launched: 18 April 1807

Fate: Renamed Bellone in April 1814. Deleted 1841.

• Corona

This frigate was completed for the Napoleonic Italian Navy, but transferred to the French Navy proper in April 1810.

Builder: Venice

Ordered:

Launched: 27 December 1807

Fate: Captured by the British Navy in March 1811, becoming HMS Daedalus.