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French frigate Harmonie (1796)

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For other ships with the same name, see French ship Harmonie.
History
French Navy Ensign French Navy EnsignFrance
NameHarmonie
BuilderBordeaux [1][2]
Laid downMay 1794 [1]
Launchedearly 1796 [1]
CompletedMay 1796 [1]
FateBeached and burnt to avoid capture by the British Navy in April 1797
General characteristics
Class and typeVirginie class frigate
Displacement720 tons (French)
Length47.4 m (156 ft)
Beam11.9 m (39 ft)
Draught5.5 m (18 ft)
Armament44 guns
ArmourTimber

Harmonie was a 40-gun Virginie class frigate of the French Navy. Her crew scuttled her on 17 March 1797 to avoid having the Royal Navy capture her.

Career

On 7 June 1796, Harmonie departed Rochefort to ferry weapons and ammunition to Cap-Français, under Captain Joshua Barney.[Note 1] She then cruised in the Caribbean between Havana and Chesapeake Bay, returning to Cap-Français on 17 October.[3][4] Lieutenant Simon Billiette took command of Harmonie on 19 August 1796; he was promoted to Commander on 22 September.[5][Note 2]

In April 1797, Harmonie was ordered to escort a convoy of merchantmen waiting in Jean-Rabel. She departed Cap Français but on 16 April the ships of the line HMS Thunderer and HMS Valiant intercepted her. In the ensuing Battle of Jean-Rabel, Harmonie sought refugee in the shallow waters off le Marigot, and the ships of the line departed after firing on her with little effect for several hours.[6] The next day, however, the ships returned, and the crew of Harmonie, seeing her hopelessly cornered, scuttled her by fire.[7][8] Billiette sustained two wounds at the left leg.[5]

On 20 April, the British ships captured most of the convoy that Harmonie had been tasked to escort.[7] Billiette was court-martialled for the destruction of his frigate, and on 26 April 1798 found innocent of the loss of the ship.[5]

Notes, citations, and references

Notes
  1. ^ Barney was an American naval officer in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Between 1796 and 1802 he served in the French Navy.
  2. ^ Billiette was also called "Billiet" (Quintin, p.69)
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d Roche, p.237
  2. ^ Demerliac, p.69, no 373
  3. ^ Fonds Marine, p.153
  4. ^ Fonds Marine, p.178.
  5. ^ a b c Quintin, p.70
  6. ^ Troude, p.64
  7. ^ a b Troude, p.65
  8. ^ Fonds Marine, p.192
References
  • Demerliac, Alain (2004). La Marine de la Révolution: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1792 A 1799 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 2-906381-24-1.
  • "Fonds Marine. Campagnes (opérations ; divisions et stations navales ; missions diverses). Inventaire de la sous-série Marine BB4. Tome premier : BB4 1 à 482 (1790-1826)" (PDF). http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr. Service historique du Ministère de la Défense. Retrieved 6 May 2013. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  • Quintin, Danielle; Quintin, Bernard (2003). Dictionnaire des capitaines de Vaisseau de Napoléon (in French). S.P.M. ISBN 2-901952-42-9.
  • 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. 3. Challamel ainé.
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