French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Capricieuse' (1779)

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La Capricieuse (32) 1779-1780
French 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1779)
La Légère (32) 1765-1780
French 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1765)
Nonsuch (64) 1774-1802
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1774)
La Eulalie (26) 1780-1780
French 26 Gun
Privateer Unknown
(1780)
Aeolus (32) 1758-1801
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
1800 Renamed "Guernsey"
(1758)
L'Artois (40) 1780-1780
French 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1780)
Romney (50) 1762-1804
British 50 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1762)
Nonsuch (64) 1774-1802
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1774)
Tapageur (14) 1779-1780
British 14 Gun
Unrated Cutter
(1779)
Cornwall (74) 1761-1780
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1761)
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La Capricieuse
Nominal Guns	32	NNF-1774
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	8.1778	NNF-1774
Launched	23.12.1779	NNF-1774
First Commissioned	6.1780	NNF-1774
How acquired	Purpose built	NNF-1774
Shipyard	Lorient - Brittany	NNF-1774
Constructor	Charles Jean François Segondat-DuvernetFrench Ship Builder Service 1735-1811	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	5.7.1780	NNF-1774

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1774
Length of Gundeck136' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)44.1728 (144′ 11″ Imperial)
Breadth34' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)11.0838 (36′ 4″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold17' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.5448 (18′ 2″ Imperial)
Burthen600Ton

Armament

6.1780Broadside 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
6.1780271 NNF-1774

Service History

DateEventSource
5.7.1780Action off Cape Ortegal

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

NNF-1774Alain Demerliac, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Saturday 20th of June 2026 04:21

Our cruisers have of late been remarkably successful in their operations against the enemy. Three large French frigates have been taken on the coast of Portugal by Commodore Johnstone; the Capricieuse, of 44 guns, by Capt Waldegrave; la Legere, of 36 guns, destroyed, and the Belle Poule of 32 guns, taken by Sir James Wallace, in the space of six weeks. [Exeter Flying Post, 11 August 1780]

Posted by Steve lockhart on Tuesday 11th of May 2021 15:46

She was burnt and sunk the night of the Action off Cape Ortegal

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Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Saturday 20th of June 2026 04:21	Jon Miller	French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Capricieuse' (1779) (32) 1779-1780 French 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Saturday 20th of June 2026 04:19	Jon Miller	French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Légère' (1765) (32) 1765-1780 French 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Saturday 20th of June 2026 04:16	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Nonsuch' (1774) (64) 1774-1802 British 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Saturday 20th of June 2026 04:03	Jon Miller	French Privateer 'La Eulalie' (1780) (26) 1780-1780 French 26 Gun Privateer Unknown
Saturday 20th of June 2026 04:03	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Aeolus' (1758) (32) 1758-1801 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate 1800 Renamed "Guernsey"

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