French frigate Harmonie (1796)

Harmonie was a 40-gun Virginie-class frigate of the French Navy. Her crew scuttled her on 17 March 1797 to avoid having the Royal Navy capture her. She on being burned was reported as pierced for 44 guns[3]

History
French Navy Ensign French Navy EnsignFrance
NameHarmonie
BuilderBordeaux [1][2]
Laid downMay 1794 [1]
Launchedearly 1796 [1]
CompletedMay 1796 [1]
FateBeached and burnt 16 April 1797
General characteristics
Class and typeVirginie-class frigate
Displacement1400 tons (French)
Length47.4 m (156 ft)
Beam11.9 m (39 ft)
Draught5.5 m (18 ft)
Armament44 guns
ArmourTimber

Career

On 7 June 1796, Harmonie departed Rochefort to ferry weapons and ammunition to Cap-Français, under Captain Joshua Barney.[Note 1] She then cruised in the Caribbean between Havana and Chesapeake Bay, returning to Cap-Français on 17 October.[4][5] Lieutenant Simon Billiette took command of Harmonie on 19 August 1796; he was promoted to Commander on 22 September.[6][Note 2]

In April 1797, Harmonie was ordered to escort a convoy of merchantmen waiting in Jean-Rabel. She departed Cap Français but on 15 April the ships of the line HMS Thunderer and HMS Valiant intercepted her. In the ensuing Battle of Jean-Rabel, Harmonie sought refugee in the shallow waters off le Marigot, and the ships of the line departed after firing on her with little effect for several hours [7] or otherwise reported were struggling to keep station because of the wind.[3] On 16 April, however, the ships returned, and the crew of Harmonie, seeing her hopelessly cornered, scuttled her by burning.[8][9] Billiette sustained two wounds at the left leg.[6]

On 20 April, the British ships captured most of the convoy that Harmonie had been tasked to escort.[8] Billiette was court-martialled for the destruction of his frigate, and on 26 April 1798 found innocent of the loss of the ship.[6]

Notes
  1. Barney was an American naval officer in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Between 1796 and 1802 he served in the French Navy.
  2. Billiette was also called "Billiet" (Quintin & Quintin 2003, p. 69)

Citations
  1. Roche 2005, p. 237
  2. (Demerliac 2004, p. 69, no. 373)
  3. "Extract of a letter from Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker". No. 14015. The London Gazette. 3 June 1797. p. 516.
  4. Fonds Marine, p. 153
  5. Fonds Marine, p. 178
  6. Quintin & Quintin 2003, p. 70
  7. Troude 1867, p. 64
  8. Troude 1867, p. 65
  9. Fonds Marine, p. 192

References
  • Archives de France (2000). Fonds marine campagnes : opérations, divisions et stations navales, missions diverses : inventaire de la sous-série Marine BB⁴. Centre historique des Archives nationales. ISBN 978-2860002653.
  • Demerliac, Alain (2004). La Marine de la Révolution: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1792 A 1799 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 2-906381-24-1.
  • Quintin, Danielle; Quintin, Bernard (2003). Dictionnaire des capitaines de Vaisseau de Napoléon (in French). S.P.M. ISBN 2-901952-42-9.
  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922. (1671-1870)
  • Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 3. Challamel ainé.
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