French frigate Melpomène (1812)

For other ships of the same name, see French ship Melpomène.
Clorinde, sister-ship of the French frigate Melpomène (1812)
History
France
Name: Melpomène
Namesake: Melpomene
Builder: Toulon
Laid down: 1811
Launched: 17 May 1812
Out of service: 30 April 1815
General characteristics
Class and type: Pallas-class frigate
Displacement: 1080 tonnes
Length: 46.93 metres (154.0 ft)
Beam: 11.91 metres (39.1 ft)
Draught: 5.9 metres (19 ft)
Propulsion: 1,950 m2 (21,000 sq ft) of sail
Complement: 326
Armament:
Armour: Timber

The Melpomène was a 44-gun frigate of the French Navy, designed by Sané. She was launched in 1812; in 1815 the Royal Navy captured and scuttled her.

Career

Melpomène was commissioned on 1 June 1812 in Toulon under Commander Charles Béville.[1] She took part in the Action of 5 November 1813, where she sustained light damage and had one wounded.

She was decommissioned on 21 February 1814, but reactivated in January 1815 under Captain Joseph Collet, at Toulon.

On 24 April, during the Hundred Days, she was sent to Napoli to transport Letizia Ramolino. Six days later, at 6a.m. on the 30th, she encountered the 74-gun HMS Rivoli off Ischia,[2] commanded by Captain Edward Stirling Dickson.[3] After a 35-minute fight, Melpomène struck to the ship of the line,[4] and was scuttled.[5]

In May, the frigate Dryade brought Ramolino to France, along with Prince Jérôme Bonaparte.[4][6]

Notes, sources and references

Notes

    Sources

    1. ↑ Fonds Marine, p.459
    2. ↑ Fonds Marine, p. 502
    3. ↑ Troude, op. cit., p. 201
    4. 1 2 Troude, op. cit., p. 202
    5. ↑ Roche, op. cit.
    6. ↑ Roche, op. cit., p. 158

    References

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