Sémillante-class frigate

Naval encounter during the Quasi-War between Insurgente (right) and USS Constellation on 9 February 1799.
Class overview
Name	Sémillante
Operators	French Navy United States Navy
Preceded by	Félicité class
Succeeded by	Charente Inférieure class
Planned	2
Completed	2
General characteristics
Class and type	32-gun, 12-pounder frigate
Tons burthen	600 tonnes
Length	45.47 metres (gundeck); 40.28 metres (keel)
Beam	11.53 metres
Draught	5.3 metres
Depth of hold	5.66 metres
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Ship
Armament	32 guns 26 12-pound long guns 6 6-pound long guns

The Sémillante class was a type of 12-pounder 32-gun frigate of the French Navy, designed by Pierre-Joseph Pénétreau.

• Sémillante

Builder: Lorient

Ordered: 23 April 1790 (named)

Laid down: December 1790

Launched: 25 November 1791

Completed: May 1792

Fate: Given to Robert Surcouf at Mauritius in September 1808 and armed by him as a privateer, renamed Charles. Captured by the Royal Navy in December 1809 and broken up.

• Insurgente

Builder: Lorient

Ordered: 3 September 1790

Laid down: 5 November 1791

Launched: 27 April 1793

Completed: June 1793

Fate: Captured by the US Navy off Nevis on 8 February 1799, recommissioned as USS Insurgent, but lost at sea in a hurricane in September 1800.

References

• Winfield, Rif and Roberts, Stephen (2015),French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (Seaforth Publishing) ISBN 978-1-84832-204-2.