Name Rubis Fate Burnt Draught 5.9 metres (19 ft) Length 47 m Beam 12 m | Namesake Ruby Class and type Pallas-class frigate Launched 1811 Displacement 1.08 million kg Builder Nantes | |
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Propulsion 1,950 m (21,000 sq ft) of sail | ||
The Rubis was a 40-gun Pallas-class frigate of the French Navy.
On 25 November 1812, under Commander Louis-François Ollivier, Rubis sailed from Nantes along with Aréthuse (Captain Pierre Bouvet) to intercept British trade off West Africa. In January, having captured a Portuguese ship, La Serra, they reached Cap-Vert.
On 27 January 1813, Aréthuse intercepted the brig HMS Daring (Lieutenant Pascoe) off Tamara. Released prisoners reported the presence of the French frigates, prompting the departure of HMS Amelia (Captain Frederick Paul Irby).
In the night of 5 February, a storm hit Rubis and Aréthuse while at anchor; both frigates broke their cables and Rubis was thrown ashore, whole Aréthuse managed to sail clear of the coast into open water. Efforts to refloat her the next day proved futile, and she was abandoned by her crew, who embarked on the prize Serra, and scuttled by fire. Aréthuse fought the Action of 7 February 1813 with HMS Amelia the next day, and after the stalemate with her opponent, returned on the site of the wreck to rapatriate the crew to France.