Virginie-class frigate

The Virginie class was a class of ten 40-gun frigates of the French Navy, designed in 1793 by Jacques-Noël Sané. An eleventh vessel (Zephyr) begun in 1794 was never completed.

• Virginie

Builder: Brest

Begun: November 1793

Launched: 26 July 1794

Completed: December 1794

Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 22 April 1796, becoming HMS Virginie.

• Courageuse

Builder: Brest

Begun: December 1793

Launched: early August 1794

Completed: December 1794

Fate: Renamed Justice April 1795. Captured by the British Navy in September 1801, but not added to Royal Navy; instead, handed over to the Turkish Navy.

• Harmonie

Builder: Bordeaux

Begun: May 1794

Launched: early 1796

Completed: May 1796

Fate: Beached and burnt to avoid capture by the British Navy in April 1797.

• Volontaire

Builder: Bordeaux

Begun: September 1794

Launched: 7 June 1796

Completed: 1796

Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 4 March 1806, becoming HMS Volontaire.

• Cornélie

Builder: Brest

Begun: March 1794

Launched: 19 September 1796

Completed: April 1798

Fate: Captured by the Spanish Navy in June 1808, becoming Spanish Cornelia.

• Zéphyr

Builder: Brest

Begun: March 1794

Fate: Construction abandoned in April 1804 (never launched).

• Didon

Builder: Saint Malo

Begun: September 1796

Launched: 1 August 1799

Completed: September 1800

Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 10 August 1805, becoming HMS Didon.

• Atalante

Builder: Saint Malo

Begun: September 1799

Launched: 29 June 1802

Completed: July 1802

Fate: Wrecked in November 1805.

• Rhin

Builder: Toulon

Begun: June 1801

Launched: 15 April 1802

Completed: October 1802

Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 27 July 1806, becoming HMS Rhin.

• Belle Poule

Builder: Basse-Indre

Begun: June 1801

Launched: 17 April 1802

Completed: September 1802

Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 13 March 1806, becoming HMS Belle Poule.

• Surveillante

Builder: Basse-Indre

Begun: July 1801

Launched: 29 May 1802

Completed: December 1802

Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 30 November 1803, becoming HMS Surveillante.

Virginie fighting HMS Indefatigable
Class overview
Name	Virginie
Builders	Toulon
Operators	French Navy  Royal Navy
Preceded by	Seine class
Succeeded by	Preneuse class
Completed	10
Cancelled	1
General characteristics
Type	Frigate
Displacement	1,400 tonnes
Tons burthen	1,090
Length	47.4 m (155 ft 6 in)
Beam	11.9 m (39 ft 1 in)
Draught	5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
Armament	40 guns {though pierced for 44 guns}
Armour	Timber