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From November 1796 to January 1797, ''Alceste'' patrolled the coasts of Italy under Captain [[Jean-François-Timothée Trullet]].
From November 1796 to January 1797, ''Alceste'' patrolled the coasts of Italy under Captain [[Jean-François-Timothée Trullet]].


She took part in the [[Expédition d'Égypte]] under [[Jean-Baptiste Barré]], ferrying General [[Jean Reynier]], and was later appointed to a squadron under Admiral [[Jean-Baptiste Perrée]], which also comprised ''Junon'', ''Courageuse'', ''Salamine'' and ''Alerte''. In the [[Action of 18 June 1799]], Perrée's squadron met with a 30-ship fleet under [[George Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith|Lord Keith]] and struck their colours. [[HMS Bellona (1760)|HMS ''Bellona'']] accepted ''Alceste{{'}}s'' surrender and she was brought into British service as HMS ''Alceste''.
She took part in the [[Expédition d'Égypte]] under [[Jean-Baptiste Barré]], ferrying General [[Jean Reynier]], and was later appointed to a squadron under Admiral [[Jean-Baptiste Perrée]], which also comprised the frigates [[French frigate Junon (1786)|''Junon'']] and [[French frigate Alceste (1780)|''Alceste'']], and [[French frigate Courageuse (1778)|''Courageuse'']], and the brigs ''Salamine'' and ''Alerte''. ''Bellona'' took part in the [[Action of 18 June 1799]], securing the surrender of the frigates ''Junon'' and ''Alceste'', and helping [[HMS Centaur (1797)|HMS ''Centaur'']] in capturing ''Courageuse''.


==Fate==
==Fate==

Revision as of 20:00, 2 May 2013

A Magicienne class frigate
History
French Navy Ensign French Navy EnsignFrankreich
NameAlceste
Ordered20 April 1780
BuilderToulon shipyard
Laid downMay 1780
Launched28 October 1780
CommissionedFebruary 1781
Capturedby Britain, 29 August 1793
History
Kingdom of Sardinia
NameAlceste
Acquired29 August 1793
CapturedBy the Boussole on 8 June 1794
History
French Navy Ensign French Navy EnsignFrankreich
NameAlceste
Acquired8 June 1794
CapturedHMS Bellona, 18 June 1799
History
UK
NameHMS Alceste
Acquired18 June 1799
FateFloating battery and 1801, broken up in May 1802
General characteristics
Class and typeMagicienne class frigate
Displacementlist error: <br /> list (help)
600 tonnes
5 260 tonnes fully loaded
Length44.2 metres
Beam11.2 metres
Draught5.2 metres (22 French feet)
Armament26 x 12-pdr long guns + 6 x 6-pdr long guns
ArmourTimber

Alceste was a Magicienne class frigate of the French Navy, launched in 1780, seized by the British at the Siege of Toulon. They transferred her to the Kingdom of Sardinia, but the French recaptured her a year later in the Action of 8 June 1794. The British captured her again at the Action of 18 June 1799 and took her into service as HMS Alceste. In 1801 she became a floating battery and she was sold the next year.

Career

At the outbreak of the French Revolution, Alceste served in the Mediterranean, until she was put in the reserved and disarmed in Toulon. The royalist insurrection found her there, and she was seized by the British and transferred to the Kingdom of Sardinia before the conclusion of the Siege of Toulon.

The 32-gun Boudeuse recaptured her in the Action of 8 June 1794. The French then took her back into French service. Under Captain Louis-Jean-Nicolas Lejoille, she was part of Admiral Martin's squadron, which captured HMS Berwick in 1795.

From 31 March 1795Alceste was commanded by Jean Joseph Hubert. She took part in the Battle of Hyères Islands, where she battled several British ships before rescueing Alcide.[1]

In March 1796, Alceste ferried Jean-Baptiste Annibal Aubert du Bayet to his appointment as ambassador to Constantinople, along with military advisors.

From November 1796 to January 1797, Alceste patrolled the coasts of Italy under Captain Jean-François-Timothée Trullet.

She took part in the Expédition d'Égypte under Jean-Baptiste Barré, ferrying General Jean Reynier, and was later appointed to a squadron under Admiral Jean-Baptiste Perrée, which also comprised the frigates Junon and Alceste, and Courageuse, and the brigs Salamine and Alerte. Bellona took part in the Action of 18 June 1799, securing the surrender of the frigates Junon and Alceste, and helping HMS Centaur in capturing Courageuse.

Fate

In 1801 the British converted HMS Alceste to a floating battery. She was eventually sold for scrap in May 1802.[2]

See also

Citations

  1. ^ Quintin, Danielle et Bernard (2003). Dictionnaire des capitaines de Vaisseau de Napoléon. S.P.M. p. 175. ISBN 2-901952-42-9.
  2. ^ Demerliac (1996), p. 64, #388.

References

  • Demerliac, Alain (1996) La Marine De Louis XVI: Nomenclature Des Navires Français De 1774 À 1792. (Nice: Éditions OMEGA). ISBN 2-906381-23-3
  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005) Dictionnaire des Bâtiments de la Flotte de Guerre Française de Colbert à nos Jours. (Group Retozel-Maury Millau), Vol. 1, p.30.