French frigate Amazone (1778)

Amazone was a 32-gun Iphigénie-class frigate of the French Navy. She was the second ship of the French Navy to receive a copper sheathing in 1778.[4] She served in the War of American Independence under Captain Lapérouse, and later in the French Revolutionary Wars.

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Amazone.
Action between Amazone (foreground) and HMS Santa Margarita, by Robert Dodd
History
French Navy Ensign French Navy Ensign French Navy EnsignFrance
NameAmazone
NamesakeAmazons
BuilderSaint Malo,[1] Guillemant Dépêches and Fromy Dupuy upon plans by Léon-Michel Guignace[2]
Laid downAugust 1777[1]
Launched11 May 1778[1]
CompletedJuly 1778[1]
FateWrecked 1797
General characteristics
Class and typeIphigénie-class frigate
Displacement~1150 tonnes
Length44.2 metres[1]
Beam11.2 metres[1]
Draught4.9 metres[1]
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement
  • 9 to 10 officers
  • 261 to 278 men[3]
Armament

Career

Amazone was commissioned in July 1778, in time for the Anglo-French War that had broken out in June. She took part in the War of American Independence under Captain Lapérouse, and constituted the vanguard of the French squadron that came to support the Continental Army, arriving at Boston on 11 June 1780.[5]

On 7 October 1779, Amazone captured the 20-gun HMS Ariel.[1]

On 2 May 1780,[6] she departed Brest with the 7-ship and 3-frigate Expédition Particulière under Admiral Ternay, escorting 36 transports carrying troops to support the Continental Army in the War of American Independence. The squadron comprised the 80-gun Duc de Bourgogne, under Ternay d'Arsac (admiral) and Médine (flag captain); the 74-gun Neptune, under Sochet Des Touches, and Conquérant, under La Grandière; and the 64-gun Provence under Lombard, Ardent under Bernard de Marigny, Jason under La Clocheterie and Éveillé under Le Gardeur de Tilly, and the frigates Surveillante under Villeneuve Cillart, Amazone under La Pérouse, and Bellone.[7] Amazone, which constituted the vanguard of the fleet, arrived at Boston on 11 June 1780.[8]

From October to November 1780, she sailed from Rhode Island to Lorient, and from there to the Caribbean.[1]

Action of 29 July 1782 between Amazone (left) and HMS Santa Margarita (right), by Robert Dodd.

In the action of 29 July 1782, HMS Santa Margarita briefly captured Amazone, off Cape Henry, but the next day the squadron under Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil intervened and recaptured the frigate.[9][10]

Fate

Amazone was wrecked off Penmarch in January 1797.[1] 6 of her crew died in the accident.[2]

Citations
  1. Roche (2005), p. 37.
  2. Demerliac (2004), p. 62, n°377.
  3. Demerliac (2004), p. 62, n°373.
  4. Monaque (2000), p. 34.
  5. Monaque (2000), p. 48.
  6. Roche (2005), p. 159.
  7. Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 645.
  8. Monaque (2000), p. 38.
  9. Fordham, Barringer & Quilley (2007), p. 149-50.
  10. Troude (1867), p. 203.

References
  • Fordham, Douglas; Barringer, T. J; Quilley, Geoff, eds. (2007). Art and the British Empire. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719073922.
  • Demerliac, Alain (2004). La Marine de Louis XVI: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1774 à 1792 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 2-906381-23-3.
  • Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650-1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
  • Lacour-Gayet, Georges (1910). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion.
  • Monaque, Rémi (2000). Les aventures de Louis-René de Latouche-Tréville, compagnon de La Fayette et commandant de l'Hermione (in French). Paris: SPM.
  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922. (1671-1870)
  • Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé.
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