Jacques-Noël Sané designed the Hortense-class 40-gun frigates of the French Navy in 1802. Seven frigates were built to this new design between 1803 and 1807. Of the seven, one was wrecked at sea and the British Royal Navy captured four, taking three into service.
Hortense
Builder: Toulon
Ordered: 1802
Launched: 3 July 1803
Fate: Deleted 1840
Hermione
Builder: Toulon
Ordered: 1803 as
République Italienne, renamed
Hermione December 1803
Launched: 2 December 1804
Fate: Wrecked August 1808.
Pomone
Builder: Genoa
Ordered:
Launched: 10 February 1805
Fate: Captured by the British Navy in November 1811, becoming HMS
Ambuscade.
Manche
Builder: Cherbourg
Ordered:
Launched: 5 April 1806
Fate: Captured by the British Navy in December 1810, but not added to that navy.
Caroline
Builder: Antwerp
Ordered:
Launched: 15 August 1806
Fate: Captured by the British Navy in September 1809, becoming HMS
Bourbonnaise.
Pauline
Builder: Toulon
Ordered:
Launched: 18 April 1807
Fate: Renamed
Bellone in April 1814. Deleted 1841.
Corona
This frigate was completed for the Napoleonic Italian Navy, but transferred to the French Navy proper in April 1810.
Builder: Venice
Ordered:
Launched: 27 December 1807
Fate: Captured by the British Navy in March 1811, becoming HMS
Daedalus.
