French frigate Volontaire (1796)
| History | |
|---|---|
  France | |
| Name | Volontaire |
| Builder | Bordeaux |
| Laid down | September 1794 |
| Launched | 7 June 1796 |
| Fate | Captured by the British Navy on 4 March 1806, becoming HMS Volontaire |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Virginie class frigate |
| Displacement | 720 tonnes |
| Length | 47.4 m (156 ft) |
| Beam | 11.9 m (39 ft) |
| Draught | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
| Armament | 44 guns |
| Armour | Timber |
Volontaire was a 40-gun Virginie class frigate of the French Navy.
On 20 November 1798, along with Insurgente, Volontaire, under Captain Laurent, captured the 14-gun corvette USS Retaliation.[1]
She took part in the Atlantic campaign of 1806 and was captured by HMS Diadem on 4 March 1806.[2] She sailed into Table Bay, unaware that the British had captured Cape Town. HMS Diadem, flying a Dutch flag, came alongside. When Diadem ran up the British flag, Volontaire surrendered.[Note 1]
The Royal Navy took her into service as HMS Volontaire. Captain Josceline Percy commissioned her and sailed her to St Helena. There he took charge of a convoy for England.
Fate
Volontaire was broken up in February 1826.
Notes, citations, and references
Notes
- ^ In July 1810 there was a distribution of money for the capture of two French vessels taken at the Cape of Good Hope, Rolla on 21 February and Volontaire on 4 March: A petty officer's share of the prize money for Volontaire was £6 5s 0½d; an able seaman's share was £1 11s 6d. For Rolla the amounts were 15s 0½d and 3s 10d.[3]
Citations
- ^ Troude (1867), p. 168.
- ^ "No. 15919". The London Gazette. 13 May 1806. pp. 601–602.
- ^ "No. 16387". The London Gazette. 14 July 18071. p. 1047.
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References
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours, 1671–1870. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. p. 474. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
- Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France. Vol. 3. Challamel ainé.