French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Magicienne' (1778)

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La Magicienne
Nominal Guns	32	NNF-1774
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	3.1777	NNF-1774
Launched	1.8.1778	NNF-1774
First Commissioned	10.1778	NNF-1774
How acquired	Purpose built	NNF-1774
Shipyard	Toulon - Provence	NNF-1774
Ship Class	Magicienne Class (1777)	NNF-1774
Designed by	Joseph-Marie-Blaise CoulombFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1755-1789	NNF-1774
Category	Fifth Rate	NNF-1774
National Rate	Quatrième Rang	NNF-1774
Ship Type	Frigate	NNF-1774
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	NNF-1774
Captured	2.9.1781	NNF-1774
Becomes	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Magicienne' (1781) (32) 1781-1810 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1774
Length of Gundeck136' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)44.1728 (144′ 11″ Imperial)
Length of Keel119' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)38.6512 (126′ 9″ Imperial)
Breadth34' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)11.0838 (36′ 4″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold17' 10"French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.5216 (18′ 1″ Imperial)

Armament

1.8.1778Broadside Weight = 174 French Livre (187.7808 lbs 85.173 kg)NNF-1774
Upper Gun Deck26 French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 French 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 French 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1777264Design Complement

Service History

DateEventSource
2.9.1781Taken by Off Boston

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

NNF-1774Alain Demerliac, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Friday 24th of July 2026 08:52	Jon Miller	Philip AffleckBritish Naval Sailor Service 1743-1799
Friday 24th of July 2026 08:41	Jon Miller	George SarradineBritish Naval Sailor Service 1794-1802
Friday 24th of July 2026 08:28	Jon Miller	British Other Vessels discovery vessel 'Discovery' (1789) (10) 1789-1834 British 10 Gun Other Discovery Vessel
Friday 24th of July 2026 08:15	Jon Miller	Mark RobinsonBritish Naval Sailor Service 1740-1787
Friday 24th of July 2026 06:56	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Ethalion' (1797) (38) 1797-1799 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

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