History | |
---|---|
France | |
Name | Naïade |
Ordered | 23 July 1779 [1] |
Builder | Toulon [1] |
Laid down | July 1779 [1] |
Launched | 21 December 1779 [1] |
Commissioned | April 1780 [1] |
Captured | 1805 |
United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Naiad |
Fate | Sold 1784 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Coquette-class corvette |
Type | corvette |
Tons burthen | 400 tonnes |
Length | 38.7 metres |
Beam | 9.9 metres |
Draught | 4.9 metres |
Armament | 18 × 8-pounder long guns |
Naïade was a 20-gun Coquette-class corvette. She took part in the Indian theatre of the Anglo-French War with the squadron under Suffren. The British Royal Navy captured her in 1783 but never commissioned her; it sold her in 1784.
On 11 February 1782, Naïade departed Brest. She called Isle de France ( Mauritius) and arrived at Cuddalore on 10 March 1782 to support the squadron under Suffren. [1]
In November 1782, she was at Ceylon under Costebelle. [2]
On 11 April, Captaine de Brûlot Villaret de Joyeuse was given command of Naïade. [3] Suffren sent her to Madras to warn the French blockading squadron, composed of the 74-gun Fendant, [4] the 64-gun Saint-Michel and the frigates Cléopâtre and Coventry, of the imminent arrival of a superior British force. [5] Three days after her departure, on 11 April 1783, Naïade spotted the 64-gun HMS Sceptre, [6] under Captain Graves; [7] after trying without success to elude his much stronger opponent, Villaret was forced into battle, and struck his colours after a five-hour fight. [8] [9] [5] [7] When Villaret surrendered his sword, Graves allegedly told him "Sir, you have given us a fairly beautiful frigate, but you made us pay dearly for her!"; [5] some authors add that Graves returned Villaret his sword. [1]
The British armed Naïade with twenty-two 12-pounder guns, and two 18-pounder and six 12-pounder carronade, but never commissioned her. [10] From 26 April 1783, she was under Lieutenant Richard Strachan.
Naïade was sold on 17 August 1784. [10]