French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Proserpine' (1785)

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Britannia (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
(1762)
Devastation (6) 1841-1866
British 6 Gun
Unrated Steam Sloop
(1841)
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1790)
Pembroke (60) 1733-1749
British 60 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1733)
Mercury (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
(1745)
Seahorse (24) 1748-1784
British 24 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1748)
Charles PowlettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1728-1749
Namur (74) 1746-1749
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
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(1746)
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La Proserpine
Nominal Guns	38	NNF-1774
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	12.1784	NNF-1774
Launched	25.6.1785	NNF-1774
First Commissioned	8.1785	NNF-1774
How acquired	Purpose built	NNF-1774
Shipyard	Brest - Brittany	NNF-1774
Ship Class	Hébé Class (1781)	NNF-1774
Designed by	Jacques-Noël SanéFrench Naval Sailor Designer Ship Builder Administrator Service 1758-1836	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	13.6.1796	NNF-1774
Becomes	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Amelia' (1796) (38) 1796-1816 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck151' 4"Imperial Feet46.0268
Length of Keel126' 1 ⅜"Imperial Feet38.4143
Breadth39' 8 ⅞"Imperial Feet11.9094
Depth in Hold12' 6 ½"Imperial Feet3.6703
Burthen1,059 ³⁵⁄₉₄Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1774
Length of Gundeck129' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)41.8992 (137′ 5″ Imperial)
Length of Gundeck142' 6"French Feet (Pied du Roi)46.1255 (151′ 3″ Imperial)
Breadth39' 11"French Feet (Pied du Roi)12.6702 (41′ 6″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold19' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)6.1712 (20′ 2″ Imperial)
Displacement1,350Ton
Burthen700Ton

Armament

8.1785Broadside Weight = 274 French Livre (295.7008 lbs 134.123 kg)NNF-1774
Upper Gun Deck26 French 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle10 French 8-Pounder

1794Broadside Weight = 346 French Livre (373.4032 lbs 169.367 kg)NNF-1774
Upper Gun Deck26 French 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle4 French 36-Pounder Obusier
Quarterdeck/Forecastle10 French 8-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1781350Design Complement

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1788Capitaine de Frégate6.1795 - 6.1796Capitaine de Vaisseau de Troisième Classe002

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1795Capitaine de Vaisseauref:1275

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
16.1791 - 11.1791Lieutenant de Frégate002

Service History

DateEventSource
1.6.1794Glorious 1st of June
16.6.1795First Battle of Groix
20.3.1796Action off Pointe du Raz
13.6.1796Taken by

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

002Thierry Pouliquen, Web Site

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

NNF-1774Alain Demerliac, Book

ref:1275 Web Site

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 8th of June 2026 17:20	F.F.	British First Rate ship of the line 'Britannia' (1762) (100) 1762-1825 British 100 Gun 1st Rate Ship of the Line 1812 Renamed "Princess Royal" 1812 Renamed "Saint George" 1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01	James Daschuk	British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866 British 6 Gun Unrated Steam Sloop
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56	AvM	British Merchant east indiaman 'Zephyr' (1790) (8) 1790-1798 British 8 Gun Merchant East Indiaman
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37	Jon Miller	British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Pembroke' (1733) (60) 1733-1749 British 60 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753 British 20 Gun 6th Rate Ship

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