Name Virginie Builder Brest In service December 1794 Construction started March 1794 Length 47 m Draft 5.5 m | Ordered 17 October 1793 Laid down March 1794 Captured 22 April 1796 Launched 26 July 1794 Weight 720 tons | |
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Virginie was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.
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French service
She took part in the First Battle of Groix and in the Battle of Groix.
On 22 April 1796, Virginie was cruising off Ireland under captain Jacques Bergeret when she encountered a British squadron under Commodore Edward Pellew, comprising the 44-gun HMS Indefatigable and the frigates Argo, Concord, Révolutionnaire, HMS Amazon and their prize Unité, captured on 13 April.
Virginie retreated and the British squadron gave chase, joining with the French frigate around 23:00. Indefatigable closed in and exchanged broadsides, without succeeding in her attempts at raking Virginie. The gunnery exchange lasted for 4 hours, until the British frigates caught up. Bergeret then struck his colours in the face of an overwhelming opponent.
She was subsequently recommissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Virginie.
British service
In January 1799, Virginie was with British squadron at the defence of Macau during the Macau Incident.
On 20 May 1808, she captured the Dutch frigate Guelderland.
In Royal Navy service the armament consisted of 46 guns:-