Iphigénie-class frigate

The Iphigénie class was a ship class of nine 32-gun frigates built for the French Navy during the late 1770s at Lorient (2 ships) and Saint-Malo (7 ships). They were designed by the French shipwright Léon Guignace. The seven built at Saint-Malo were initially numbered Nos. 1 – 7 respectively, and not given names until October 1777 (for Nos 1 – 4) and the start of 1778 (Nos. 5 – 7); all seven were captured by the British Navy between 1779 and the end of 1800. Of the two built at Lorient, the Spanish captured one, and a storm wrecked the other.

• Iphigénie ^[2][3]

Builder: Gilles Cambry at Lorient Dockyard

Ordered:

Laid down: February 1777

Launched: 16 October 1777

Completed: March 1778

Fate: Captured by the Spanish in February 1795, becoming Spanish Ifigenia.

• Surveillante ^[4]

Builder: Gilles Cambry at Lorient Dockyard

Ordered:

Laid down: August 1777

Launched: 26 March 1778

Completed: May 1778

Fate: Wrecked in a storm in Bantry Bay, January 1797

• Résolue (ex No.1) ^[5]

Builder: Saint-Malo Dockyard

Ordered:

Laid down: July 1777

Launched: 16 March 1778

Completed: April 1778

Fate: Captured by the British 14 October 1798, becoming HMS Resolue.

• Gentille (ex No.2) ^[6]

Builder: Saint-Malo Dockyard

Ordered:

Laid down: July 1777

Launched: 18 June 1778

Completed: August 1778

Fate: Captured by the British 11 April 1795, becoming HMS Gentille.

• Amazone (ex No.3) ^[7]

Builder: Saint-Malo Dockyard

Ordered:

Laid down: August 1777

Launched: 11 May 1778

Completed: July 1778

Fate: Captured by the British 29 July 1782, but retaken by a French squadron the following day; wrecked off the Penmarch Islands January 1797.

• Prudente (ex No.4) ^[8]

Builder: Saint-Malo Dockyard

Ordered:

Laid down: August 1777

Launched: late March 1778

Completed: July 1778

Fate: Captured by the British 2 June 1779, becoming HMS Prudente.

• Gloire (ex No.5) ^[9]

Builder: Saint-Malo Dockyard

Ordered:

Laid down: January 1778

Launched: 9 July 1778

Completed: October 1778

Fate: Captured by the British 10 April 1795, becoming HMS Gloire.

• Bellone (ex No.6) ^[10]

Builder: Saint-Malo Dockyard

Ordered:

Laid down: January 1778

Launched: 2 August 1778

Completed: February 1779

Fate: Captured by the British 12 October 1798, becoming HMS Proserpine.

• Médée (ex No.7) ^[11]

Builder: Saint-Malo Dockyard

Ordered:

Laid down: January 1778

Launched: 23 September 1778

Completed: February 1779

Fate: Captured by the British 5 August 1800, becoming HMS Medee.