Virginie-class frigate

The Virginie class was a class of ten 40-gun frigates of the French Navy, designed in 1793 by Jacques-Noël Sané. An eleventh vessel (Zephyr) begun in 1794 was never completed.

Ships in class Virginie Builder: Brest Begun: November 1793 Launched: 26 July 1794 Completed: December 1794 Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 22 April 1796, becoming HMS Virginie.

Courageuse Builder: Brest Begun: December 1793 Launched: early August 1794 Completed: December 1794 Fate: Renamed Justice April 1795. Captured by the British Navy in September 1801, but not added to Royal Navy; instead, handed over to the Turkish Navy.

Harmonie Builder: Bordeaux Begun: May 1794 Launched: December 1795 Completed: May 1796 Fate: Beached and burnt to avoid capture by the British Navy in April 1797.

Volontaire Builder: Bordeaux Begun: September 1794 Launched: 7 June 1796 Completed: 1796 Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 4 March 1806, becoming HMS Volontaire.

Cornélie Builder: Brest Begun: March 1794 Launched: 19 September 1796 Completed: April 1798 Fate: Captured by the Spanish Navy in June 1808, becoming Spanish Cornelia.

Zéphyr Builder: Brest Begun: March 1794 Fate: Construction abandoned in April 1804 (never launched).

Didon Builder: Saint Malo Begun: September 1796 Launched: 1 August 1799 Completed: September 1800 Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 10 August 1805, becoming HMS Didon.

Atalante Builder: Saint Malo Begun: September 1799 Launched: 29 June 1802 Completed: July 1802 Fate: Wrecked in November 1805.

Rhin Builder: Toulon Begun: June 1801 Launched: 15 April 1802 Completed: October 1802 Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 27 July 1806, becoming HMS Rhin.

Belle Poule Builder: Basse-Indre Begun: June 1801 Launched: 17 April 1802 Completed: September 1802 Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 13 March 1806, becoming HMS Belle Poule.

Surveillante Builder: Basse-Indre Begun: July 1801 Launched: 29 May 1802 Completed: December 1802 Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 30 November 1803, becoming HMS Surveillante.

References Rif Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1793-1817, Seaforth Publishing, 2007, .