French frigate Artémise (1794)

Artémise was a 32-gun Magicienne-class frigate of the French Navy.

History
French Navy Ensign French Navy Ensign French Navy EnsignFrance
NameArtémise
NamesakeArtemisia I of Caria/Artemis
BuilderToulon
Laid downDecember 1791[1]
Launched25 September 1794[1]
In serviceNovember 1794[1]
FateScuttled on 2 August 1798 after the Battle of the Nile to avoid capture[1]
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeMagicienne-class frigate
Displacement1,100 tons (French)[1]
Length
  • 44.18 m (144.9 ft) (overall)
  • 38.66 m (126.8 ft) (keel)[1]
Beam11.21 m (36.8 ft)[1]
Draught5.2 m (17 ft) (laden)[1]
Complement265-285
Armament
ArmourTimber
Capture of La Minerve off Toulon, 24 June 1795 by Thomas Whitcombe. In the foreground the damaged and dismasted Minerve duels with HMS Dido, while in the background far left Artémise flees, pursued by Lowestoffe

She was under construction in Toulon when the Coalition seized the city in August 1793. They evacuated the city in December 1793, leaving her behind. The French named her Aurore on 24 July 1794, but then renamed her Artémise when they launched her on 25 September.

At the action of 24 June 1795, along with the 40-gun Minerve, she took part in an action against HMS Dido and Lowestoffe, escaping while Minerve was captured. Her captain was relieved of his command for leaving Minerve.

In 1798, she took part in the Expedition of Egypt. During the Battle of the Nile on 2 August 1798 HMS Orion and HMS Theseus engaged her; outgunned, her crew set fire to her to prevent the British from capturing her.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Roche, vol.1, p. 52
  2. ^ Winfield and Roberts (2015), p. 129.

References

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  • Boudriot, Jean; Berti, Hubert (1992). Frégate, Marine de France 1650-1850. Éditions Ancre. ISBN 2903179115.
  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. p. 52. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
  • Winfield, Rif; Roberts, Stephen S. (2015). French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786–1861: Design Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-204-2.