French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Désirée' (1796)

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La Désirée
Nominal Guns	40	BWAS-1793
Nationality	République Française
Operator	State Navy
Keel Laid Down	2.1794	BWAS-1793
Launched	23.4.1796	BWAS-1793
First Commissioned	12.1798	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Dunkerque - Flanders	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Romaine Class (1794)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	Pierre-Alexander ForfaitFrench Designer Ship Builder Administrator Service 1773-1806	BWAS-1793
Category	Fifth Rate	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Frigate	BWAS-1793
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1793
Captured	8.7.1800	BWAS-1793
Becomes	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Desiree' (1800) (36) 1800-1832 British 36 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck147' 3"Imperial Feet44.8072
Length of Keel124' 2 ¼"Imperial Feet37.8016
Breadth39' 2 ¾"Imperial Feet11.9063
Depth in Hold11' 9"Imperial Feet3.5814
Burthen1,016 ⁵⁰⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

23.4.1796Broadside Weight = 336 French Livre (362.6112 lbs 164.472 kg)FWIKI
Gun Deck24 French 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle4 French 36-Pounder Carronade
Quarterdeck/Forecastle12 French 8-Pounder

Service History

DateEventSource
7.7.1800Attack on Dunkirk
8.7.1800Taken by cut out of Dunkirk Roads

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

FWIKIVarious, Web Site

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Date posted	By	Page
Friday 19th of June 2026 10:02	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Foudroyant' (1758) (80) 1758-1787 British 80 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Friday 19th of June 2026 09:51	Jon Miller	American Privateer 'Eleonore' (1780) (Unknown) 1780-1780 American Unknown Gun Privateer Unknown
Friday 19th of June 2026 09:50	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Ambuscade' (1773) (32) 1773-1798 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Friday 19th of June 2026 09:41	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Monarch' (1765) (74) 1765-1813 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Friday 19th of June 2026 09:36	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Bienfaisant' (1758) (64) 1758-1814 British 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line

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