List of sail frigates of France


This article is a list of French naval frigates during the Age of Sail, from the middle of the 17th century until the close of the sailing era in the middle of the 19th century. The tables excludes privateer frigates, which were not part of the Marine Royale, as well as frigates built for the French East India Company unless the latter were subsequently acquired by the French Navy.
Note that throughout this article the term "-pounder" refers to French pre-metric units of weight - livres - which were almost 8% greater than UK/US units of the same name; every other maritime power likewise established its own system of weights and each country's 'pound' was different from that of every other nation. Similarly French pre-metric units of length were 6.575% longer than equivalent UK/US units of measurement ; the pre-metric French pied was equivalent to 324.8394 mm, whereas the UK/US foot equalled 304.8 mm. These differences should be taken into account in any calculations based on the units given below.

Classification of frigates

Early French naval frigates, until the 1740s, comprises two distinct groups. The larger types were the frégates-vaisseau, with batteries of guns spread over two decks; these were subdivided into two groups; the larger were the frégates du premier ordre - or vaisseau du quatrième rang - usually with a lower deck battery of 12-pounder guns, and an upper deck battery of either 8-pounder or 6-pounder guns; and the smaller were the frégates du deuxième ordre - or vaisseau du cinquième rang - with a lower deck batter of 8-pounder guns, and an upper deck battery of either 6-pounder or 4-pounder guns. The smaller types were the frégates légères, with a single battery of 6-pounder or 4-pounder guns, plus a few small guns on its superstructure or gaillards. The 'modern' sail frigate, with its main battery on the upper deck, and no ports along the lower deck, emerged at the start of the 1740s.
This article categorises frigates according to the weight of the projectile fired by the main battery; the first 'true' frigates in the 1740s carried either 6-pounder or 8-pounder guns, but development soon standardised around the 12-pounder frigate, carrying thirteen pairs of 12-pounder guns on the upper deck, and usually three pairs of 6-pounder guns on the quarterdeck and forecastle. During the American Revolutionary War, larger types carrying an 18-pounder or even 24-pounder main battery were introduced, and following the French Revolution these became predominant. Finally in the 1820s, a new type of 30-pounder armed frigate was brought into service.

Design and construction

In general, French frigates were more lightly built than their British equivalents. This reflected not a poorer quality of design, but resulted from a different strategic need. French frigates were perceived as being away from port for limited periods; they had less room for storage of provisions for protracted overseas deployments, and they sacrificed durability for speed and ease of handling. British frigates, in comparison, were more solidly built to endure lengthy times at sea and thus were more able to withstand extreme weather conditions, but were slow in comparison.
The number of guns is as rated; from the 1780s, many carried some obusiers or swivels also.

Frigates of Louis XIV (1643–1715)

This table commences with a listing of early French naval frigates of the second half of the 17th century and the early 18th century. Note that numerous French warships underwent changes of names on 24 June 1671, with many other changes of names on various occasions.
Under the classification system introduced by Colbert in 1669, as altered in 1671, the "quatrième rang" covered two-decked frigates of between 36 and 46 guns, amended in 1683 to between 40 and 46 guns, while the "cinquième rang" comprised smaller frigates, both single-decked and two-decked of between 28 and 34 guns, increased in 1683 to between 30 and 36 guns. Below this rank were the unranked frégates légères carrying fewer guns.

Frigates of the 1st Order (or 4th Rank Vessels)

These were two-decked ships, usually carrying 12-pounder guns in their lower deck battery, and generally an upper deck battery of 6-pounders. They were classed as fourth rank vessels. While not rated as ships of the line, inevitably several of these frigates not infrequently found themselves taking a place in the line of battle, although their main function was for cruising and for trade protection/attack.
  • , 30 guns, acquired 1651 – broken up 1654.
  • , 36 guns, design by Tanguy, launched late 1656 at Saint-Malo – renamed Éole in June 1671; broken up 1674.
  • , 30/38 guns, design by Jean-Pierre Brun, launched 18 June 1658 at Soubise – captured by the British Navy off Lisbon in April 1666, becoming HMS French Victory.
  • , 30 guns, design by Georges Carteret, launched 1659 at Brest – wrecked January 1662.
  • , 28/36 guns, launched 1658 at Nice and purchased 1661 for the Navy – deleted 1675.
  • , 36 guns, launched June 1661 at Brest – renamed Ecueil in June 1671; wrecked off Puerto Rico 25 February 1673.
  • , 40 guns, design by Gédéon Rodolphe, launched 1661 at Toulon – renamed Indien in June 1671; wrecked May 1673.
  • Mancini class, designed by Gédéon Rodolphe with 2 × 20-pounder, 6 × 16-pounder, 10 × 12-pounder and 14 × 8-pounder guns:
  • *, 36 guns, launched 15 May 1662 at Toulon – renamed Neptune in June 1671, then Maure in January 1679; deleted 1686.
  • *, 36 guns, launched June 1662 at Toulon – renamed Trident in June 1671; deleted 1686.
  • , 42/44 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched 1665 at Brest – renamed Comte in June 1671, wrecked in December 1676.
  • , 44/46 guns, design by François Pomet, launched June 1666 at Toulon – wrecked off Formentera in January 1684.
  • , 44/46 guns, design by Laurent Coulomb, launched June 1666 at Toulon – hulked 1726, taken to pieces 1729.
  • , 34/42 guns, purchased on the stocks and launched August 1666 – wrecked January 1670 en route to Canada.
  • , 40/44 guns, design by Jean Guichard, launched November 1666 at Soubise – hulked June 1689, taken to pieces September 1697.
  • , 34/40 guns, design by Hendrick, launched 1667 at Dunkirk – renamed Arc en Ciel in June 1671, captured by the Dutch November 1673.
  • , 40/46 guns, launched early 1667 at Dunkirk – renamed Brusque in June 1671, hulked in February 1688.
  • Provençal class, designed by Gédéon Rodolphe:
  • *, 44/52 guns, launched February 1667 at Toulon – renamed Joli in June 1671, then Fidele in June 1678 – hulked 1695.
  • *, 46/52 guns, launched March 1667 at Toulon – renamed Mignon in June 1671, then Capable in June 1678 – deleted 1690.
  • , 44/46 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched early 1668 at Brest – taken to pieces 1689.
  • , 44 guns, design by Jean Esnault, launched August 1669 at Le Havre – renamed Alcyon in June 1671, condemned 1686.Saint Antoine de Genes, 34/40 guns, former Portuguese San Antonio du Marquis de Centurion launched 13 June 1765, purchased at Lisbon for the Navy in November 1669 – renamed Leger in June 1671; condemned 1678 and taken to pieces in 1679.
  • Assuré class, designed by Hendrick with 20 × 12-pounder, 20 × 8-pounder and 6 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, 44/48 guns, launched December 1670 at Dunkirk – renamed Français in June 1671; taken to pieces in September 1686.
  • *, 44/48 guns, launched December 1670 at Dunkirk – renamed Oiseau in June 1671; sold December 1693 to take to pieces.
  • , 36/44 guns, design by Joseph [de de Saboulin Bollena|Saboulin Bollena|Saboulin], launched 1 January 1671 at Bayonne – renamed Brillant in June 1671, then Triton in June 1678; deleted 1694.
  • Aventurier class, designed by Louis Audibert:
  • *, 36/40 guns, launched November 1671 at Marseille – deleted 1697.
  • *, 42/44 guns, launched 29 August 1672 at Marseille – deleted 1694 and sold for commerce.
  • , 46 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched March 1673 at Brest – sunk in action against the Dutch off Tobago in March 1677.
  • , 36/40 guns, design by Pierre Malet, launched September 1673 at Rochefort – renamed Etoile in December 1675; deleted 1696.
  • , 44 guns, design by François Chapelle, launched October 1674 at Toulon – renamed Arche de Noë in February 1692, then Cache in 1693 and deleted same year.
  • Facheux class, designed by Hendrick with 10 × 12-pounder, 8 × 8-pounder, 16 × 6-pounder and 6 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, 40 guns, launched November 1673 at Dunkirk – renamed Entendu in January 1675; burnt in February 1675.
  • *, 40 guns, launched November 1673 at Dunkirk – renamed Croissant in January 1675; taken to pieces 1692.
  • , 40–44 guns, design by Laurent Coulomb, launched 21 November 1673 at Toulon – deleted as frigate 1691, but probably used as a flûte and renamed Concorde in April 1692.
  • Hasardeux class, designed by Honoré Malet, with 18 × 12-pounder, 18 × 6-pounder and 4 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, 38–44 guns, launched 1674 at Rochefort – wrecked April 1695 at St Domingo.
  • *, 40–44 guns, launched 1674 at Rochefort – renamed Faucon Français from 1694 until 1703; taken to pieces 1708.
  • , 40–42 guns, launched 1665 at Saint-Malo and purchased for the Navy in February 1675 – sold 1692.
  • , 40–44 guns, design by Pierre Le Brun, launched November 1677 at Brest – deleted 1698.
  • Ferme class, designed by François Chapelle, with 20 × 12-pounder, 20 × 6-pounder and 4 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, 40–46 guns, launched 29 January 1678 at Toulon – renamed Laurier in June 1678; sold April 1692.
  • *, 40–46 guns, launched 31 March 1678 at Toulon – deleted 1698.
  • , 40–44 guns, design by Etienne Salicon, launched 2 November 1678 at Le Havre – sold 1689.
  • , 40 guns, design by Etienne Salicon, launched 3 November 1679 at Le Havre – condemned 1695.
  • Solide class, designed by F. Hendrick with 20 × 12-pounder, 20 × 6-pounder and 4 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, 44 guns, launched 6 November 1683 at Dunkirk – wrecked August 1694 off Tortuga.
  • *, 44 guns, launched 20 November 1683 at Dunkirk – condemned August 1705 and abandoned.
  • , 44–48 guns, design by Etienne Salicon, launched 17 November 1684 at Le Havre – sold September 1689.
  • , 48–52 guns, design by Etienne Salicon, launched 20 October 1687 at Le Havre – taken to pieces 1736.
  • , 50 guns, design by Laurent Coulomb, launched 22 June 1688 at Toulon – captured by the English Navy in January 1695, added to the RN under the same name.
  • , 40 guns, design by Howens Hendrick, launched July 1689 at Dunkirk – broken up 1718.
  • , 44 guns, design by Etienne Salicon, launched 20 January 1691 at Le Havre – burnt off Orkney June 1703.
  • Opiniâtre class, designed by Honoré Malet with 20 × 12-pounder and 20 × 6-pounder guns:
  • *, 40 guns, launched July 1691 at Rochefort – deleted 1699.
  • *, 40 guns, launched August 1691 at Rochefort – broken up 1717.
  • , 40 guns, design by François Le Brun, launched 28 May 1695 at Brest – deleted 1708.
  • , 44 – reduced to 36 guns in 1701; captured and wrecked in the Vigo Bay in October 1702.
  • , 42/44 guns, design by Pierre Masson, launched 1696 at Rochefort) – sold 1698 commercially but restored to Navy 1704; burnt by accident 1713.
  • , 42 guns, design by Blaise Pangalo, launched September 1696 at Brest – burnt by accident 1704.
  • , 40/42 guns, design by Pierre Chaillé, launched 9 January 1697 at Le Havre – burnt in the Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702.
  • , 44 guns, design by Blaise Pangalo, launched January 1697 at Brest – captured by the English Navy in the Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702.
  • , 44 guns, design by Honoré Malet, launched 1697 at Rochefort – captured by the English Navy in February 1705.
  • , 48 guns, design by Antoine Tassy, launched early 1698 at Bayonne – deleted 1723.
  • , 46 guns, design by François Brun, launched October 1698 at Lorient, given to the Compagnie des Indes 1698, recovered 1703 but transferred again 1705.
  • , 44 guns, design by François Coulomb, launched 10 January 1699 at Toulon – wrecked October 1714 off Havana.
  • , 44 guns, launched ?1698 for French South Sea Company, purchased 1701 for the Navy – deleted 1719.
  • , 44 guns, design for Félix Arnaud, launched 1692 for French South Sea Company, purchased 1701 for the Navy – deleted 1723.
  • , 46 guns, design by Pierre Coulomb, launched 24 November 1700 for French East India Company, and purchased June 1702 for the Navy – re-rated as 3ième Rang in 1705–08; deleted 1740.
  • , 46 guns, design by Philippe Cochois, launched 21 October 1702 at Le Havre – captured by the British Navy in October 1709.
  • Sylvie class, designed by François Coulomb with 22 × 12-pounder, 16 × 6-pounder and 2 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, 40 guns, purchased on the stocks for the Navy and launched 30 November 1703 at Toulon – sold 1706.
  • *, 40 guns, launched 29 September 1704 at Toulon – wrecked November 1718 off Cyprus.
  • , 44 guns, design by Blaiss Coulomb, launched 10 January 1705 at Lorient – captured by the British Navy in August 1712, but returned 1713; deleted 1744 and taken to pieces 1748.
  • , launched privately, then purchased 1706 at Toulon – deleted 1757.
  • , 44 guns, design by Blaise Pangalo, launched 20 June 1705 at Brest – captured by the British Navy in May 1711.
  • Atalante class, designed by Philippe Cochois with 12 × 12-pounder, 18 × 8-pounder, 10 × 6-pounder and 4 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, 44 guns, launched February 1707 at Le Havre – hulked 1728, taken to pieces 1733.
  • *, 44 guns, launched February 1707 at Le Havre – deleted 1712.
  • , 40 guns, design by Blaise Pangalo, launched 16 April 1707 at Brest – hulked 1741, broken up 1748.
  • , 38 guns, design by Laurent Hélie, launched 18 April 1707 at Lorient – captured by the British Navy in 1709, became HMS Sweepstakes; broken up 1716.
  • , 42 guns, design by Blaise Pangalo, launched 14 November 1708 at Brest – hulked 1720, taken to pieces 1746.
;Enemy frigates or equivalent captured by the French Navy 1675–1705 and classed as Frégates du Premier Ordre.
  • Notre Dame du Peuple, 40/44 guns – retaken by the Spanish January 1676.
  • Triomphant, 40 guns – deleted 1689.
  • Charles II, 40 guns – deleted 1694.
  • Gerzé, 46 guns – sold 1717.
  • Marie-Elisabeth, 48 guns – sold 1697.
  • Faucon Anglais, 48 guns – deleted 1698.
  • Non Such, 37/42 guns – renamed Sans Pareil in 1696, deleted 1697.
  • Sainte Croix, 40 guns – deleted 1699.
  • Christo, 44 guns – captured by the Dutch in June 1697 .
  • , 40 guns – deleted 1706.
  • Coventry, 50 guns – retaken by the British Navy in May 1709.
  • Falmouth, 50/52 guns – sold by January 1706.
  • Mercure, 40/42 guns – captured January 1707 by the English Navy.

Frigates of the 2nd Order (or 5th Rank vessels)

These generally carried 8-pounder guns in their lower deck battery, and were classed as fifth rank vessels. Note this list is incomplete, and requires expansion.
  • Saint-Sébastien, 30 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched 1658 at Brest for Nicolas Fouquet, seized for French Navy in September 1661 – renamed Faucon in June 1671; wrecked 1673 off Terceira. On the 24th of May 1665, two regimental transport ships, Saint-Sébastien and La Justice, each carrying four infantry companies of the Carignan-Salières Regiment, departed La Rochelle bound for the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River and Quebec. Aboard the Saint Sébastien were Jean Talon, newly appointed intendant of New France, and Daniel de Remy de Courcelles, the new governor of the colony who would serve under Alexandre de Prouville, Marquis de Tracy.
  • , 38 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched 1660 at Concarneau for Nicholas Fouquet, seized for French Navy in September 1661 – renamed Orage in June 1671, then Eclair in December 1675, converted to fireship and burnt June 1676.
  • ,, 24 guns, purchased February 1662, possibly ex-Swedish – sold September 1665 to French East India Company.
  • , 30 guns, design by Hendrick?, launched 7 November 1664 at Dunkirk – deleted 1679.
  • , 34 guns, design by Hendrick, launched 19 November 1664 at Dunkirk – renamed Capricieux on 24 June 1671; hulked 1680, deleted 1686.
  • , 34 guns, design by Laurent Coulomb, launched privately 1664 at La Ciotat and purchased in February 1666 for the Navy – renamed Dur in June 1671, then Poli in June 1678; deleted 1691 and sold 1692.
  • , 34 guns, launched 1662 at Brest and purchased in April 1666 for the Navy – renamed Hasardeux in June 1671, converted to fireship and expended 1673.
  • , 30 guns, former French East Indiaman Vierge du Port purchased in April 1666 for the Navy – renamed Profond in June 1671; reclassed as a flûte 1669 and deleted 1678.
  • Tourbillon class, designed by Laurent Hubac, with 20 × 8-pounder and 8 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, 28 guns, launched 29 April 1670 at Brest – deleted 1677.
  • *, 28 guns, launched 28 May 1670 at Brest – renamed Petillant on 28 June 1678; fireship 1693; deleted 1696.
  • Trompeuse class, designed by Gédéon Rodolphe, probably with similar armament to Tourbillon class:
  • *, 28 guns, launched 29 June 1670 at Toulon – renamed Drole on 24 June 1671, then Gaillard on 28 June 1678; wrecked off Le Havre 1682.
  • *, 28 guns, launched 6 July 1670 at Toulon – renamed Triton on 24 June 1671, then Mercure on 28 June 1678; converted to flûte and renamed Econome 1692; deleted 1694.
  • , 28 guns, design by Jean Guichard, launched 25 July 1670 at Rochefort – sold 1681.
  • , 24 guns, design by Hendrick, launched February 1671 at Dunkirk – renamed Éveillé in June 1671, then Bien Aimée in 1685 when reclassed as frégate légère; deleted 1693.
  • Arrogant class, designed by Laurent Hubac, probably with similar armament to Tourbillon class:
  • *, 28 guns, launched 1671 at Brest – renamed Arrogant on 24 June 1671; expended as fireship at Texel on 21 August 1673.
  • *, 28 guns, launched March 1671 at Brest – renamed Hardi on 24 June 1671, then Joly on 28 June 1678; wrecked 1692.
  • , 32 guns, design by Jean Guichard, launched May 1672 at Rochefort; renamed Vigilant in January 1673, then Mignon on 26 August 1678, and Coche in 1692 ; deleted 1704.
  • , 32 guns, launched 1672 at Brest – renamed Emerillon on 7 January 1673; captured by the British Navy in 1693.
  • , 28 guns, design by Hendrick, launched February 1673 at Dunkirk – renamed Éveillé in June 1671, then Bien Aimée in 1685 ; deleted 1693.
  • , 32 guns, design by Pierre Malet, but built by Abraham Aubier, launched 28 May 1673 at Rochefort – renamed Soleil d'Afrique on 6 December 1675, then Lyon on 26 August 1678; fireship 1695, sold on 24 December 1710.
  • Caché class, designed by Laurent Hubac with 16 × 8-pounder and 16 × 6 -pounder guns:
  • *, 32 guns, launched October 1673 at Brest – renamed Dragon on 28 November 1673; reclassed as a flûte in 1709, taken to pieces 1712.
  • *, 32 guns, launched October 1673 at Brest – renamed Arrogant on 28 November 1673, then Galant on 28 June 1678; wrecked off Portugal in March 1684.
  • Facheux class – see now under 1st Order frigates above.
  • , or Dauphin de Bayonne, 28 guns, design by Honoré Malet, purchased April 1674 – renamed Perle in December 1675; deletede 1690.
  • Palmier class, designed by Benjamin Chaillé with 18 × 8-pounder and 18 × 6-pounder guns:
  • *, launched 23 December 1676 at Le Havre – sold 1709.
  • *, launched 15 July 1677 at Le Havre – captured by the Dutch Navy in January 1689.
  • ,, 28 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched 1679 at Brest – wrecked off Brest 1684.
  • , 30 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched 1679 at Brest – burnt November 1704 to avoid capture.
  • , 28 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched 1679 at Brest – deleted 1687.
  • , 30 guns, design by Honoré Malet, launched July 1679 at Rochefort – deleted 1705.
  • , 36 guns, design by Laurent Coulomb, launched November 1679 at Toulon – renamed Serieux in January 1680, then Croissant in June 1690; burnt November 1704 to avoid capture.
  • , 28 guns, design by Pierre Malet, launched 1681 at Rochefort – deleted 1698.
  • , 30 guns, design by Hendrick, launched 8 January 1689 at Dunkirk – captured by the English Navy in May 1689, becoming HMS Play Prize.
  • Gaillarde class – designed by Masson, with 20 × 8-pounder and 12 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, 32 guns, 35.1 × 9.2 × 4.1 × 4.5 meters, 200 tons, launched 1689 at Rochefort – sold 1711.
  • *, 32 guns, launched June 1689 at Rochefort – wrecked 1705.
  • , 34 guns, design by Howens Hendrick, launched July 1689 at Dunkirk – wrecked January 1690.
  • Jeux class – 36-gun design by Howens Hendrick with 18 × 8-pdrs and 18 × 4-pdrs.
  • *, launched November 1689 at Dunkirk – captured by the English Navy in July 1706, becoming HMS Childs Play.
  • *, launched 1689 at Dunkirk.
  • Aigle class – 36-gun design by Félix Arnaud:
  • *, launched early 1692 at Bayonne – wrecked February 1712 at Cayenne.
  • *, launched early 1692 at Bayonne – expended 1702 as a fireship.
  • , 40 guns, design by François Coulomb, launched 1693 at Toulon – wrecked March 1695.
  • , 34 guns, design by Pierre Coulomb, launched July 1693 and renamed Sphere in September 1693 – deleted 1695.
  • , 30–32 guns, design by Etienne Hubac, launched September 1695 at Brest – burnt November 1704 to avoid capture.
  • , 30–38 guns, Blaise Pangalo design, launched January 1696 at Brest – hulked 1719, taken to pieces 1741.
  • , 30 guns, Etienne Hubac design, launched September 1699 at Brest – lost 1705.
  • , 30 guns, design by Blaise Pangalo, launched September 1699 at Brest – reduced to frégate légère in 1705, wrecked February 1713.
  • , 38 guns, design by Antoine Tassy, launched 1699 at Bayonne – wrecked 1702.
  • , 36 guns, rebuilding of ex-Algerine ship of 1687, re-launched 19 March 1700 at Toulon – wrecked 1703 or 1704.
  • , 32 guns, design by Antoine Tassy, launched 1704 at Bayonne – deleted 1722.
  • , 36/40 guns, design by Philippe Cochois, launched 4 December 1709 at Le Havre as privateer but seized for Navy while building; restored to owner at launch and never served in French Navy.
;Enemy frigates or equivalent captured by the French Navy 1654–1703 and classed as Frégates du Deuxième Ordre.
  • Saint Antoine, 38 guns – wrecked in September 1670.
  • Perle, 34 guns – converted to fireship in June 1674, sold November 1676.
  • Étoile de Diane, 34/36 guns – converted to fireship in 1675 and renamed Bretonne; taken to pieces 1678.
  • Soleil d'Afrique, 30/34 guns – converted to fireship in June 1674, sold November 1676.
  • Croissant d'Afrique, 30/34 guns – converted to fireship in 1674, renamed Facheux in January 1675 but taken to pieces in same year.
  • Palmier, 24 guns – converted to fireship in June 1671 and renamed Actif, taken to pieces in 1672.
  • Ligournois, 24/28 guns – renamed Emerillon in June 1671; converted to fireship in April 1672 and burnt at Solebay in June 1672.
  • Soleil d'Alger, 36 guns – renamed Galant in November 1688; returned to Algerines in December 1689.
  • Trois Roses, 32 guns – renamed Hirondelle in November 1688; rebuilt 1699–1700 at Toulon.
  • Mercure, 30 guns – burnt at La Hogue in March 1692.
  • Weeps, 32 guns – sold 1705.
  • Zeripze, 30 guns – deleted 1705.
  • Ludlow, 30 guns – hulked 1719.
  • Vigilante, 32 guns – deleted 1704–05.
  • Rozendal, 34 guns – deleted 1712.
  • Saemslack, 30–34 guns – deleted 1717.
  • Milford, 30–32 guns – hulked May 1717, taken to pieces 1720.
  • Fowey, 30 guns – hulked 1713, taken to pieces c.1720.
  • Sorlingue, 32 guns – sold as privateer 1709, retaken by British Navy 1711.

Light Frigates (''Frégates légères'')

These were single-decked unranked ships, carrying a battery of 6-pounder or 8-pounder guns on their sole gundeck. An estimated 162 of these were placed in service between 1661 and 1715, of which the following is simply a partial list, and needs expansion.
  • , former Dunkirk vessel of same name, captured in June 1658; deleted 1666.
  • , purchased in Holland 1660 by Nicolas Fouquet as Sainte Anne de Biscaye, confiscated in September 1661 for French Navy and name shortened; grounded 1670 and BU.
  • , built 1661 at Rochefort for Nicolas Fouquet, confiscated in September 1661 for French Navy; renamed Feé in 1671; deleted 1674.
  • , launched November 1665 at Brest – renamed Sibylle on 24 June 1671; deleted 1675.
  • , 16 guns, designed/built by Laurent Hubac, launched 1666 at Brest; deleted April 1674 at Pondicherry and BU.
  • , launched 1666.
  • Dieppoise class.
  • *, 14 guns, launched April 1668 at Dieppe – renamed Inconnu in May 1678, then Incommode in June 1678, reclassed as fireship; taken to pieces in June 1681.
  • *, 14 guns, launched April 1668 at Dieppe – renamed Lutine 24 June 1671; sold April 1675.
  • , 12 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched October 1670 at Brest – renamed Tempete on 24 June 1671; captured by Spanish in July 1675.
  • , 10 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched November 1670 at Brest guns, launched November 1670 at Rochefort – captured by the English Navy in December 1690.
  • *,, 14 guns, launched November 1670 at Rochefort – captured by privateers in June 1675.
  • , 28 guns, design by Joseph Saboulin, launched May 1676 at Rochefort; deleted 1690.
  • Fée class, design by Laurent Hubac, 28 guns:
  • *, launched August 1676 at Brest - sold 1685 but reacquired 1690 as Jalouse; condemned 1698.
  • *, launched August 1676 at Brest - wrecked in February 1694.
  • , 28 guns, design by Jean Guichard, launched 1676 at Rochefort; deleted 1691.
  • , 26 guns, design by Howens Hendrick, launched 23 June 1678 at Dunkirk – deleted 1691.
  • Charmante class, designed by Howens Hendrick, with 10 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, launched July 1678 at Dunkirk – deleted 1684.
  • *, launched July 1678 at Dunkirk – deleted 1684.
  • , 18 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched 1678 at Brest – deleted 1696.
  • Favorite class, designed by François Pomet, with 12 guns originally, but by 1687 with 20 × 8-pounder and 8 × 4-pounder guns:
  • *, launched November 1678 at Rochefort – captured in August 1694 by Dutch Navy in the Mediterranean.
  • *, launched November 1678 at Rochefort – renamed Gaillard in 1690 as a fireship, then Séditieux in January 1691; restored as light frigate 1695; deleted 1698.
  • Gentille class, designed by Pierre Chaillé, with 14 or 16 guns:
  • *, launched 1689 at Le Havre.
  • *, launched 1689 at Le Havre.
  • Trompeuse class, designed by Howens Hendrick, with 12 guns:
  • *, launched 1689 at Dunkirk.
  • *, launched 1689 at Dunkirk.
  • *, 1689.
  • , 20 guns, design by Howens Hendrick, launched 1689 at Dunkirk – captured by the English Navy 19 August 1697.
  • , 18 guns, design by Howens Hendrick, launched 1689 at Dunkirk – burnt 5 August 1703.
  • , 24 guns, built as the privateer Fin at Malta, launched August 1689 and seized for the French Navy in November 1690 – sold April 1692.
  • , 12 guns, design by François LeBrun, launched January 1692 at Brest – sold 1707.
  • , 12 guns, design by Laurent Helie, launched January 1692 at Brest – burnt at the Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702.
  • , 14 guns, design by Bernard Renau d'Eliçagaray, launched January 1692 at Le Havre – wrecked November 1692 off Dunkirk.
  • , 10 guns, design by Etienne Salican, launched July 1692 at Le Havre – captured by the English Navy in May 1694.
  • , 10 guns, design by Howens Hendrick, launched January 1692 at Dunkirk – burnt at the Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702.
  • , 12 guns, design by Howens Hendrick, launched February 1692 at Dunkirk – deleted 1695.
  • , 12 guns, design by Howens Hendrick, launched February 1692 at Dunkirk – wrecked September 1706.
  • , 12 guns, design by Howens Hendrick, launched February 1692 at Dunkirk – deleted in 1695.
  • , 14 guns, launched 29 July 1692 at Brest – captured by the English Navy in July 1694, becoming HMS Essex Prize.
  • , 20 guns, design by Blaise Pangalo, launched May 1696 at Brest – deleted 1705.
  • , 20 guns, design by Blaise Pangalo, launched May 1696 at Brest – deleted 1712.
  • Héroïne class:
  • *, 20 guns, launched 30 May 1696 at Brest – captured by the Spanish 1697.
  • *, 20 guns, launched 13 August 1696 at Brest – captured by the English Navy 1708.
  • , 20 guns and 2 mortars, launched October 1696 at Toulon – sold 1709.
  • , 16 guns, 1696.
  • , 22 guns, Philippe Cochois design, launched 3 August 1697 at Le Havre – captured by the English Navy in July 1697.
  • , 16 guns, design by Philippe Cochois, launched January 1702 at Le Havre – captured by the English Navy May 1702, becoming HMS Rochester Prize.
  • , 12 guns, design by Gueroult, launched May 1702 at Dieppe – sold June 1702.
  • , 26 guns, design by Philippe Cochois, launched 26 May 1702 at Le Havre – deleted 1719.
  • , 28 guns, design by Philippe Cochois, launched 26 August 1703 at Le Havre – wrecked 1705.
  • , 30 guns, design by Philippe Cochois, launched 25 October 1703 at Le Havre – captured by the English Navy November 1704, becoming HMS Swallow's Prize, 32.
  • , 26 guns, design by René LeVasseur, launched September 1704 at Dunkirk, rebuilt 1736–37. Broken up 1743
  • , 20 guns, design by René LeVasseur, launched September 1704 at Dunkirk – captured December 1711 by the British Navy, but returned; deleted 1726.
  • , 28 guns, design by Pierre Coulomb, launched November 1704 at Lorient – wrecked 1705.
  • , 30 guns, design by Pierre Chaillé, launched 1704 at Le Havre – captured May 1707 by the British Navy.
  • , 28 guns, acquired 1706 at St Malo – deleted 1710.
  • , 24 guns, design by René LeVasseur, launched 1706 at Dunkirk – wrecked 1713.
  • , 24 guns, design by Blaise Pangalo, launched 3 May 1707 at Brest – believed lost at Barcelona 1719.
  • , 20 guns, design by Jacques Bouillan, launched 1707 at Port-Royal – lost 1709.
  • , 34 guns, design by Desjumeaux, launched November 1707 at Bayonne – deleted 1720.
  • , 24 guns, design by Blaiuse Pangalo, launched 3 May 1707 at Brest - lost at Barcelona in January 1719.
  • , 14 guns, design by Philippe Cochois, launched 29 March 1708 at Le Havre – deleted 1724.
  • , 28 guns, design by Philippe Cochois, launched 16 August 1708 at Le Havre – captured by the British Navy in February 1712.
;Enemy frigates or equivalent captured by the French Navy 1654–1703 and classed as frégates légères:
  • Moqueuse, 6 guns.
  • Orage, 24 guns.
  • Caravelle, – renamed Trompeuse in March 1684, returned to Algerines in April 1685.
  • Dragon d'Or, 16 guns – renamed Moqueuse November 1688, returned to Algerines February 1691.
  • Pélican, 18/20 guns.
  • Jeanette, 12 guns – renamed Normande in January 1691, then Enflammé in 1694.
  • Salamandre, 20 guns – hulked June 1716, taken to pieces 1740.
  • Quatre Frères, 14 guns.

Frigates under Louis XV (1715–1774)

From 1715 onwards, it is more appropriate to classify frégates according to their principal armament, i.e. by the weight of shot fired by the principal battery of guns carried by those ships - although the older categories of 4th Rank, 5th Rank and unrated light frigates nominally remained in force until the 1780s. The smaller frigates were those mounting 6-pounder guns in their main battery, while larger frigates carried 8-pounder or 12-pounder guns.
Later in the century, 18-pounder or 24-pounder frigates were introduced, and from the 1820s 32-pounder guns were carried as the principal battery on larger frigates.

6-pounder armed frigates (most are ''frégates légères'')

The category of frégate légère ceased in 1748, after which no further 6-pounder frigates were built.
  • , – broken up 1730.
  • , – wrecked 1745.
  • Flore – hulked 1745, taken to pieces 1748.
  • , – deleted 1743.
  • , – captured by British Navy 1746, but not added to the RN.
  • , – captured by British Navy 26 March 1745 in the Channel, becoming.
  • Galatée class.
  • *. – captured by British Navy 7 April 1758 but not added to the RN.
  • *, – taken to pieces at Martinique 1758.
  • Martre, - deleted and hulked at Rochefort 1753, last mentioned 1757.
  • Maréchal de Saxe, - deleted and hulked 1753, dismantled 1755.
  • , – captured by British Navy in August 1758, becoming.
  • , – captured by British Navy in February 1760, becoming.
  • Zénobie, - on loan to the East India Company from January 1762, lost with all hands off Portland in November 1762.
  • Guirlande, - captured by the British navy 18 August 1762.
  • Étourdie, - reclassed as a corvette 1768, great repair in 1772, foundered on the Île de Sein 1783.
  • Bayonnaise, - foundered at Santo Domingo in August 1765.

8-pounder armed frigates (''frégates du deuxième ordre'')

  • , – broken up 1741.
  • , – captured off Brest by the British Navy on 1 September 1762.
  • , – captured by British Navy 4 April 1744, but not added to RN, instead sold as privateer Boscawen.
  • Atalante, - sunk on the Saint Lawrence river in a battle with British Forces in June 1760.
  • , – captured by British Navy 4 April 1746, retaken by the French the following day and deleted 1753.
  • Fine class.
  • *, – wrecked December 1745 off Montrose.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 21 September 1757, becoming.
  • Sirène class.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 18 October 1760 but not added to RN.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 27 September 1747, becoming.
  • Amphitrite class.
  • *, – wrecked 1745.
  • *, – deleted 1753.
  • Diane, - fitted "en flûte" with reduced armament of 20 × 8-pounders in April 1758, captured by the British Navy and foundered the same year.
  • , – captured by British Navy in May 1746, becoming HMS Ambuscade.
  • Castor type
  • *Castor, - captured by the British Navy in February 1748, not taken into service.
  • *Martre, - hulked 1753.
  • , – hulked 1757, deleted 1771.
  • , – hulked 1761, sold 1762.
  • , – sunk as blockship at Louisbourg June 1758.
  • ',.
  • *, – deleted 1775.
  • *, – deleted 1777.
  • *, – deleted 1766.
  • , – burnt to avoid capture 1757 at Majorca.
  • , – sold 1781.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 16 March 1761, becoming.
  • *, – burnt to avoid capture 19 October 1760.
  • *, – wrecked 1756.
  • , – found unfit for service, condemned and hulked 1763, dismantled 1771.
  • , – sold 1764.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 28 February 1760, becoming.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 30 January 1761, becoming.
  • *, – condemned at Brest 1789.
  • *Vestale, – captured by British Navy 8 January 1761, becoming HMS Flora, scuttled at Rhode Island to prevent capture by the Americans in 1778, an attempt to burn her failed and so she was refloated by the US; after the War of Independence she was either presented to or repurchased by the French in 1784, renamed Flore Américaine, fitted as a privateer in 1793, taken by HMS Phaeton (1782) in 1798, not recommissioned.
  • *, – captured and burnt by British Navy 24 January 1761.
  • , – sold 1786.
  • ',.
  • *, – sank in a storm 1763, but was refloated and repaired at Brest 1764, damaged in a cyclone and repaired at Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe in 1776, captured by British Navy 1778, becoming.
  • *, – wrecked March 1759 off Poitou.
  • *, – wrecked December 1761 off Vigo.
  • *, – wrecked July 1762 off San Domingo.
  • Minerve class.
  • *, – wrecked October 1762 off Villefranche.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 23 October 1762.
  • Bellone, - captured by Britain on 21 February 1759 and renamed HMS Repulse.
  • ,.
  • Pélerine, - renamed Aréthuse 1758, captured by the British Navy 18 May 1759 and renamed HMS Arethusa.
  • Maréchal de Richelieu, - renamed Echo after her launch, captured by the British Navy May 1758 near Louisbourg and taken into the Navy as HMS Echo.
  • Bouffonne class - both frigates of the class were begun at Caen but construction there was cancelled in October 1757 after it was realized that the Orne river would be too shallow for the new frigates. They were then taken to pieces and the parts transferred to Le Havre where they were finished.
  • *Bouffonne, - captured by the British Navy off the Spanish coast on 17 Julye 1761 and not fitted for sea.
  • *Malicieuse, - condemned at Brest and taken apart in 1777.
  • Danaé, - run aground near Cancale to avoid capture by the British and abandoned by her crew on 13 May 1779, refloated by the British Navy and taken into service as HMS Danae.
  • , – captured by British Navy 1794, becoming HMS Mignonne; burnt in 1797 as useless.
  • , – burnt by accident at Brest in February 1779.
  • , – deleted 1787.
  • , – captured by British Navy 31 January 1779, becoming.

12-pounder armed frigates

  • Favorite, - hulked as receiving ship at Brest in 1757, last mentioned in 1771.
  • , – captured by British Navy November 1757, becoming HMS Unicorn's Prize.
  • , – sold 1781.
  • Abénakise class
  • *Abénakise, - captured by the British Navy on the Atlantic Ocean on 23 November 1757 and renamed HMS Aurora in British service.
  • *Québec, – burned on the stocks by British forces at the capture of Quebec.
  • , – captured by British Navy 28 March 1759, becoming HMS Danae.
  • , – wrecked in the Canary Islands September 1763.
  • , – sold 1783.
  • Hussar.
  • , – deleted 1783.
  • , – captured by British Navy 1793 at Toulon and burnt.
  • Infidèle class.
  • *, - hulked 1777 at Brest and taken apart in 1783.
  • *, - found unfit for service at Brest and deleted in 1777 but refitted as a privateer in 1780, run aground by a British ship and destroyed in July 1780.
  • *, - was in need of a great repair/rebuild and sold at Brest to private investors in the end of 1777.
  • *, - sheathed with copper in 1780, accidentally caught fire and exploded near the Île à Vache, off the south-west coast of Haiti in 1781.
  • *, - captured by the British Navy in 21 December 1779 and incorporated as HMS Blanche.
  • *, - hulked at Brest in 1777 and dismantled in 1783.
  • Dédaigneuse class.
  • *,.
  • *, - captured off the Loire by HMS Nonsuch and taken into the British Navy under her former name in July 1780.
  • *,.
  • *, - condemned 1783 and taken to pieces at Brest 1784.
  • , – captured by British Navy 23April 1794 in the Channel and incorporated as HMS Engageante.
  • , – captured by British Navy 5 May 1794 off Cork, becoming HMS Espion.
  • Boudeuse class.
  • *, – deleted broken up for fuel July 1800 at Valetta, Malta.
  • *, – deleted 1785.
  • *, – deleted 1789.
  • , – deleted 1783.
  • , – burnt by accident 1779.
  • , – captured by British Navy in 29 August 1793 at Toulon.

18-pounder/24-pounder armed frigates

  • . In practice the 24-pounders were replaced by 18-pounders.
  • *, 38 - deleted at Brest in 1786.
  • *, 38 - deleted and hulked at Brest in 1785, broken up in 1804.

Frigates of Louis XVI (1774–1792), the Revolutionary era and the First Empire (to 1815)

8-pounder armed frigates

  • , was built and launched at Saint-Malo as Prince de Conti in 1773. The French Navy bought her at Saint-Malo in July 1777 for Lt123,654. She was armed with 26 × 8-pounder + 6 × 4-pounder guns. The British captured her on 19 June 1778 before the official outbreak of war and took her into service as. The Royal Navy sold her in 1782.
  • Alcmène class.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 21 October 1779, becoming.
  • *, – captured by British Navy in the Battle of the Mona Passage 19 April 1782, becoming.
  • Comtesse d'Artois class - the two frigates of this class were intended to be privateers that were purchased by the French Navy after their launch.
  • *Rohan Soubise, - renamed after purchase, captured by the British in 1781.
  • *Robecq, - renamed after purchase, captured by the British in 1782 and renamed Robecque.

12-pounder armed frigates

  • ',.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 19 August 1780 off Ushant and became.
  • *, – wrecked to avoid capture 22 August 1796 near Arcachon.
  • *, – lost without trace in the Indian Ocean 1795.
,, and, were built on the same pattern, but armed with 18-pounders.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by the British Navy 22 January 1783 in Chesapeake Bay.
  • *, – wrecked 1780.
  • *, – captured by the British Navy 22 December 1797 off the Sciilies.
  • *, – wrecked 1794.
  • *, – broken up 1797.
  • ',.
  • *, – wrecked 1780.
  • *, – wrecked 9 October 1780 on Dominica.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 1796.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 25 November 1793 off San Domingo.
  • *, – captured by Spanish Navy 1793.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 15 February 1783.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 18 June 1799 in Mediterranean.
  • *, – wrecked 1793.
  • , – captured by British Navy 22 December 1779.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by Spanish Navy 10 February 1795 in Mediterranean.
  • *, – wrecked or scuttled in Bantry Bay January 1797.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 13October 1798 North of Ireland.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 11 April 1795 in the Channel.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 1782 but retaken next day; wrecked 1797.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 2 June 1779 in West Indies.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 10 April 1795 in Channel.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 12 October 1798 off Ireland.
  • *, – captured by British East Indiamen 1800.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by British Navy in 2 September 1781 in North America.
  • *, – hulked November 1794, then deleted October 1814.
  • *, – sunk at the Battle of Aboukir, 1 August 1798.
  • *, – captured by British Navy at Toulon 29 August 1793 – became HMS Lutine and was wrecked in October 1799, her ship's bell was salvaged and still hangs in Lloyd's of London.
  • *, – captured by British Navy off Rochefort 20 August 1799.
  • *, – captured 29 August 1793 by British Navy at Toulon and given to Sardinia after the evacuation of that port, retaken by the French, on 8 June 1794, then captured again by the British Navy on 18 June 1799 in the Mediterranean.
  • *, – captured 29 August 1793 by British Navy at Toulon and burnt 18 December 1793 during evacuation.
  • *, – captured by British Navy off Cherbourg 20 October 1793.
  • *, – captured by British Navy at Genoa 17 October 1793.
  • *, – captured by British Navy off Malta 27 June 1798.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 29 August 1793 at Toulon.
  • *, – sunk at the Battle of Aboukir, 1 August 1798.
  • Cérès class.
  • *, – demolished 1787.
  • *, – demolished 1790.
  • Espérance, - captured by the British frigate HMS Pearl on 30 September 1780, becoming HMS Clinton.
  • ',.
  • *,.
  • *Railleuse, ; she was sold on 17 January 1798 at Rochefort. She became the privateer Egyptienne, which, captured on 25 March 1804. The British took Egyptienne into service as HMS Antigua. Antigua served as a prison ship until she was scrapped in 1816.
  • *Fleur de Lys – renamed Pique in June 1792 – captured by British Navy 6 January 1795 in West Indies and named HMS Pique.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured 5 July 1780 by British Navy and burnt.
  • *, – condemned 1796.
  • *, – sold for service as a privateer 1798. captured by British Navy 9 February 1799, Cape of Good Hope. Not added to Royal Navy
  • Vénus class.
  • *, – wrecked 1781.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 18 June 1793 off Start, renamed HMS Oiseau.
  • ',.
  • *, 34 guns – captured by British Navy 18 June 1809, sold to Haiti and commissioned as the, defected 1812 to Haitian rebels and renamed Heureuse Réunion, retaken by British & returned to Haiti.
  • *, 32 guns – transferred to Spain 1793.
  • *, 32 guns – condemned 1802, probably demolished 1813.
  • *, 32 guns – burnt 19 February 1794 at San Fiorenzo to avoid capture.
  • , – captured by British Navy August 1793.
  • , – got her hull coppered and renamed Fraternité in 1793, lost with all hands in the Atlantic Ocean in September 1802.
  • Embuscade, - captured by the British in 12 October 1798 off Donegal and renamed HMS Ambuscade.
  • ',.
  • *, 32 guns – sold in September 1808 for commercial use.
  • *, 32 guns.
  • *, – renamed Tribune in February 1794 – captured by British Navy 9 June 1796 off Ireland, becoming HMS Tribune.
  • *, – renamed Républicaine Française in September 1794, then Renommée in May 1795 – captured by British Navy 13 June 1796 at San Domingo, becoming HMS Renommee.
  • *, – renamed Décade in May 1795 – captured by British Navy 23 August 1798 off Cape Finisterre, becoming HMS Decade.
  • ',.
  • *Cocarde Nationale, – renamed Cocarde in June 1796; deleted 14 June 1803.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 27 November 1801, renamed HMS Alexandria.
  • *, – wrecked 1 September 1801 near Livorno to avoid capture by the British Navy.
  • Patriote (Coquille) class,.
  • *Patriote – renamed Coquille on 30 May 1795.
  • *Fidèle – renamed Sirène on 30 May 1795.
  • *, - captured by British Navy on 28 May 1803 in Channel became HMS Franchise.
  • *, - taken by the British on 28 January 1801 off Portugal, keeping her name.
  • *,.
  • Heureuse class'.
  • *,.
  • *,.
  • , – captured by British Navy 14 February 1805 off India.
;12-pounder frigates captured or purchased by the French Navy 1774 – 1815.Fox, 28 – sold 1778.Bellone, 36 – destroyed December 1797.Lonato ex-Palme, 36, – captured at Corfu by the Russians in March 1799.Léoben ex-Méduse, 36, – captured at Alexandria by the British Navy in September 1801.Mantoue ex-Céres, 32, – captured at Alexandria by the British Navy in September 1801.Montenotte ex-Brillante, 32, – taken to pieces at Alexandria in May 1801.Pallas, 30, – destroyed 1797.Bérouse, 36/40, – taken to pieces 1798.Carthagenoise, 40 – Captured by Britain on 4 September 1800, then taken to pieces.Embuscade, 32, – Recaptured by British Navy in 28 May 1803 in Atlantic.Avtroil 32.

18-pounder armed frigates

Until 1779 the standard armament on the frigate was the 12-pounder gun, but in that year Britain and France independently developed heavy frigates with a main battery of either 26 or 28 × 18-pounder guns. From 1786 the standard designs of Jacques-Noël Sané became predominant and – while other classes of frigate were built – Sané designs were used for the vast majority of frigates built thereafter up to 1814.
  • Aigle, - wrecked in combat on the Delaware River in September 1782, refloated by the British and taken into the Navy as HMS Aigle.
  • ',.
  • *, 36 guns – wrecked at Noirmoutiers 30 December 1793.
  • *, 36 guns – captured by British Navy 10 November 1808 off Lorient, becoming HMS Brune.
  • *, 36 guns – sunk in action 24 February 1809 at Sables d'Olonne.
  • *, 36 guns – captured by British Navy 4 August 1800.
  • ',.
  • *, 38 guns – captured by British Navy 4 September 1782 off Ile Bas.
  • *, 38 guns – wrecked 31 December 1788 in the Indian Ocean.
  • *, 40 guns – condemned 1801 and BU.
  • *Proserpine, 40 guns – captured by British Navy 13 June 1796 off Cape Clear, becoming HMS Amelia.
  • *, 40 guns – captured by British Navy 17 June 1794 at Miconi, Mediterranean.
  • *, 40 guns – wrecked at Vlissingen 9 November 1800.
  • ', The Danaé, the prototype, differed somewhat from the other pair).
  • *, 38 guns – deleted 1796 or later.
  • *, 38 guns – burnt by accident 1797.
  • *, 38 guns – burnt at Guadeloupe 1792.
  • ',.
  • *, 36 guns – captured by British Navy February 1794, becoming.
  • *, 38 guns – captured by British Navy June 1799, becoming.
  • *, 40 guns
  • *, 40 guns – captured by British Navy February 1794, becoming.
  • *, 40 guns – captured by British Navy in December 1793, becoming.
  • modified (enlarged) Minerve class
  • *, 40 – Captured by Britain 1795, becoming, recaptured by France in 1803 and renamed Canonnière, sold for commerce at the Île de France in June 1809, again captured by Britain in February 1810, but not re-enlisted.
  • , launched 16 November 1785 at Rochefort – captured by the British Navy 23 April 1794, becoming.
  • , launched 30 October 1788 at Brest – wrecked October 1788 in South Africa.
  • , launched 30 October 1788 at Lorient – renamed Tartu in November 1793, captured by the British Navy 31 December 1796 off Ireland, becoming.
  • , launched 3 March 1791 at Brest – captured by the British Navy 29 August 1793 at Toulon, becoming HMS Undaunted.
  • , – captured by British Navy 30 November 1803 at Cape Francois, Haiti, becoming HMS Virtue.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 30 June 1798 in Channel, became HMS Seine.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 21 October 1794 off Brest, became HMS Revolutionnaire.
  • *, – renamed Pensée in May 1795.
  • *, – burnt 12 April 1809 Battle of Basque Roads.
  • *,.
  • Loire, - launched 1796 at Nantes; captured by Britain on 18 October 1798 off Ireland and taken into the Royal Navy as HMS Loire
  • Valeureuse class,.
  • *, – damaged in a storm 1806 and sold.
  • *, 40 – Captured by Britain 25 September 1806 off Rochefort, renamed Immortalité.
  • , – launched 26 June 1794 at Rochefort; renamed Volontaire on 10 July 1794; wrecked 22 August 1794 near Penmarck to avoid capture by the Royal Navy, and destroyed the following day.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 1795, becoming HMS Virginie.
  • *Courageuse, – renamed Justice in April 1795 – captured by British Navy 2 September 1801 at Alexandria, then handed over to Turks.
  • *, - burnt by her crew to avoid capture by the British off le Marigot on 17 April 1797.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 4 March 1806 at Cape of Good Hope, becoming HMS Volontaire.
  • *, – captured by Spanish Navy 14 June 1808 at Cadiz.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 10 August1805 off Cape Finisterre, becoming HMS Didon.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 27 July 1806 off Rochefort, becoming HMS Rhin.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 13 March 1806 in South Atlantic, becoming HMS Belle Poule.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 30 November 1803 at Cape Francois, Haiti, becoming HMS Surveillante.
  • *, – December 1805 burnt by the British at the Cape of Good Hope during the attack on Cape Town.
  • ',.
  • *, – destroyed by British Navy 11 December 1799 at Port Louis.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 19 February 1801 in Mediterranean, becoming HMS Africaine.
  • , 40-gun one-off design by Pierre-Joseph Pénétreau – Captured by Britain 24 August 1800 off Malta, becoming.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 25 September 1806 off Rochefort, becoming.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 25 September 1806 off Rochefort, becoming.
  • *, – deleted 1826.
  • *, – wrecked 1811 in the Adriatic.
  • *, – burnt 4 February 1809 during attack on Martinique.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 5 April 1809 in Bay of Biscay, becoming.
  • *, – renamed Amphitrite September 1814, reverted to Saale March 1815, then Amphitrite again in July 1815 – deleted 1821.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 16 January 1814 off Madeira, becoming HMS Dunira, but quickly renamed.
  • *, – deleted 1844.
  • Three more of this design – Androméde, Emeraude and Cornélie – were begun at Bayonne but never reached launch stage, while three more were completed post-war:
  • * – deleted 3 August 1829.
  • * – deleted 30 September 1823.
  • * – deleted 29 November 1840.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by British Navy on 3 August 1801off Elba, becoming.
  • *, – hulked 1807, deleted 1850.
  • , launched 24 June 1797 at Basse-Indre – captured by the British Navy 28 June 1803 off San Domingo, becoming.
  • Pallas, - launched 1798 at Saint-Malo; Captured by Britain on 2 February 1800 off the French coast and taken into service as HMS Pique.
  • Guerrière, - launched 15 September 1799 at Cherbourg; captured by Britain on 19 July 1806 off Faroe Isles, she is best known for her fight with USS Constitution in 1812.
  • ',.
  • *, – burnt 3 February 1814 at Brindisi to avoid capture by the British Navy.
  • *, – captured by the British Navy 30 November 1803 at Cape Francois, Haiti, becoming HMS Clorinde.
  • ',.
  • *, – captured by the British Navy 25 September 1806 in the Channel, becoming HMS Gloire.
  • *, – captured by the British Navy 27 September 1806 in the Atlantic, becoming HMS President.
  • *, – captured by the British Navy 22 January 1809 off Guadeloupe, becoming HMS Alcmene.
  • *, – captured by the British Navy 18 September 1810 off Reunion, becoming HMS Nereide.
  • *, – captured by the British Navy on 10 February 1809 in West Indies, becoming HMS Junon, retaken and scuttled by the French off Guadaloupe in December of the same year.
  • *, – severely damaged 1809, sold 1813 or 1814.
  • *, – burnt by the British Navy 25 March 1811 near Barfleur.
  • ',.
  • *,.
  • *, - taken by HMS San Fiorenzo off Ceylon on 8 March 1808 and put into service as HMS Piedmontaise.
  • *,.
  • *,.
  • *, - captured by the British Navy at the fall of Île de France, 6 December 1810, and renamed HMS Junon.
  • *, - taken by the British at the seizure of Réunion, September 1809, renamed HMS Madagascar.
  • *,.
  • *,.
  • , – captured by Britain on 23 February 1805 and renamed HMS Milan.
  • ',.
  • *, – renamed Sirène in August 1814; deleted 1836.
  • *, – renamed Danaé in August 1814; deleted 1819.
  • *, – renamed Thémis August 1814, reverted to Oder March 1815, then Thémis again July 1815; deleted 1831.
  • *, – deleted August 1823.
  • ',.
  • *, – broken up 1840.
  • *, – run aground near Brest and then burnt by the British Navy in 1808.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 29 November 1811 in the Adriatic, becoming.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 6 December 1810 at fall of Mauritius, but not added to RN.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 21 September 1809 at Ile Bourbon, becoming HMS Bourbonnaise.
  • *, – renamed Bellone April 1814.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 13 March 1811 at the Battle of Lissa, becoming.
  • Pallas class,. This was the 'standard' frigate design of the French First Empire, numerically outweighing all other types.
  • *, - deleted in 1822.
  • *, – renamed Calypso 30 August 1814; hulked 1825; demolished probably in 1841.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 20 May 1811 off Madagascar, becoming.
  • *, – renamed Junon April 1814; "en flûte" 1837; deleted from the navy list 1842.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 26 February 1814 near Galway, becoming HMS Aurora.
  • *, – wrecked 23 December 1810.
  • *, – to French Navy itself April 1810, renamed Favorite, burnt and destroyed by explosion at the Battle of Lissa in 13 March1811.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 6 December 1810 at fall of Mauritius, becoming HMS Pomone.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 16 August 1809, becoming HMS Laurel.
  • *, – renamed Aurore April 1814, then Dauphine September 1829 but reverted to Aurore August 1830; deleted 1848.
  • *, ; hulked 1832; taken apart 1873.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 16 January 1814 off Madeira, renamed HMS Palma, but shortly after becoming HMS Gloire.
  • *, – wrecked 1816.
  • *, – renamed Eurydice August 1814; taken apart at Brest in 1825.
  • *, – burnt to avoid capture in the action of 22 May 1812.
  • *, - renamed Muiron 1850; foundered at Toulon in 1882.
  • *, – burnt to avoid capture in the action of 22 May 1812.
  • *, – handed over to new Dutch Navy 1814; deleted in 1826.
  • *, -.
  • *Principessa di Bologna, – to French Navy itself April 1810, renamed Princesse de Bologne and launched 1811 – captured by the Austrian Navy April 1814 at the fall of Venice.
  • *, - condemned in 1822 and broken up at Brest.
  • *, – handed over to new Dutch Navy 1814 and renamed Maas; demolished in 1816.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 3 Feb 1814 in the Atlantic, becoming HMS Modeste.
  • *, - demolished at Brest 1825.
  • *, - razeed to corvette in 1834; condemned and sold for demolition in 1851.
  • *, – renamed Psyché August 1814; deleted 1822.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 23 October 1813 in the Atlantic, becoming HMS Trave.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 21 October 1813 off Ushant, becoming HMS Weser.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 30 April 1815 off Ischia, becoming HMS Melpomene.
  • *, – wrecked 5 February 1813 in the Los Islands.
  • *, – renamed Africaine August 1814; wrecked in 1822.
  • *, – renamed Duchesse d'Angoulême July 1814; condemned and deleted in 1825.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 6 January 1814 Cape Verde Islands, becoming HMS Seine.
  • *, - abandoned at the fall of Venice and taken by the Austrians; demolished in 1826.
  • *, – renamed Fleur de Lys in November 1814, reverted to Dryade March 1815 then Fleur de Lys again July 1815, finally Résolue August 1830; run aground and wrecked in a storm and demolished on site in 1833.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 26 March 1814 off La Hogue, becoming.
  • *, – captured by British Navy 27 March 1814 off La Hogue, becoming.
  • *, – renamed Néréide in August 1814; hulked in 1825.
  • *, – seized by the Austrians at Venice's capture, becoming Austrian Navy's Anfitrite and later Augusta.
  • *, - captured by the Dutch on the stocks at the fall of Rotterdam.
  • *, - taken on the stocks by the Dutch at the evacuation of Amsterdam and renamed Koningin, later renamed Wilhelmina; deleted ca. 1821.
  • *, - taken on the stocks by the Dutch at the evacuation of Amsterdam and renamed Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina; deleted from the Dutch Navy List in 1819.
  • *, - abandoned on the stocks by the retreating French; the Dutch recommenced construction, later renaming her Rhijn in 1828, hulked in 1853 and demolished in 1874.
  • *, - abandoned on the stocks by the retreating French; the Dutch recommenced construction, renaming her Schelde; deleted in 1853.
  • *, – renamed Remise 1850.
  • *, – renamed Victoire August 1830.
  • *, – hulked 1836, broken up after 1837.
  • *, – renamed Lanninon April 1865.
  • *,.
  • *,.
;18-pounder frigates captured by the French Navy.Succès, 32, – Retaken by British Navy 10 December 1801.
  • ,. Taken to pieces 1865.
  • , – Retaken by British Navy December 1810.
  • , – Retaken by British Navy December 1810.
  • Ceylon, – Retaken by British Navy the following day.

24-pounder armed frigates

France experimented early with heavy frigates, with a pair being built in 1772. Several more were constructed during the French Revolution, but the Romaine class of "frégate-bombardes", to which curious design at least thirteen vessels were ordered, proved over-gunned, and no further 24-pounder armed frigates were begun until after 1815.
  • ',.
  • *, 50 – captured by British Navy 25 August 1800 in the Mona Passage, becoming.
  • *, 50 – captured by British Navy 9 March 1797 off Brest, becoming.
  • ',.
  • *, 50 – captured by the British Navy 28 February 1799 in the Bay of Bengal, becoming.
  • *, 50 – captured by British Navy 2 September 1801 at Alexandria, becoming.
  • ,.
  • *,.
  • *, – captured by the British Navy 20 October 1798, becoming.
  • *,.
  • *,.
  • *,.
  • *,. - captured by the British Navy 24 December 1805, not added to Royal Navy
  • *,.
  • *, – captured by the British Navy 7 August 1800, at Dunkirk becoming.
  • *,.
The original programme had provided for a total of twenty-four vessels of this class, of which twenty were actually ordered between October 1793 and April 1794. Apart from the nine vessels listed above, three further vessels begun in 1795/98 were intended to be of this class – Pallas at Saint-Malo, and Furieuse and Guerrière at Cherbourg; but all were completed as 18-pounder armed frigates. Another two vessels to this design – the Fatalité and Nouvelle - were never completed; the remainder of the original programme appear never to have been begun.

Frigates under Louis XVIII and later (1815–1860)

After 1815, French frigates continued to be graded according to the calibre of their main battery as frégates portant du 18, 24 or 30. However, in 1827 they were classified as either 1st, 2nd or 3rd class. The 1st class carried a main battery of 30-pounder guns, and the 2nd class a main battery of 24-pounder guns. The 3rd class initially comprised the remaining pre-1815 vessels with 18-pounder guns, but after 1830 a new group of 3rd class frigates was built with 30-pounder guns. In 1837 this classification was amended to base the division on the number of guns carried.

Third class frigates (from 1830), 30-pounder armed

Initially defined as frigates with a main armament of 18-pounder guns, this category was amended to define them as frigates of either 46 or 40 guns.
  • Héliopolis class :
  • *, – deleted 31 December 1864.
  • *, – deleted 7 March 1867.
  • *, – renamed Constitution 28 February 1849; deleted 31 December 1879.
  • *, – deleted 27 February 1880.
  • *Two more frigates at Brest – Bouvines and Psyché – probably to have been to this design, were cancelled in 1831.
  • *Five more frigates – Pomone, Nymphe, Thémis, Antigone and Psyché – possibly to the same design, were cancelled in 1836–37.
  • Pénélope class :
  • *, – deleted 22 December 1864.
  • *, – deleted 22 December 1864.
  • Psyché class :
  • *, – deleted 15 July 1867.
  • *, – fitted as steam frigate 1857; deleted 26 January 1888.
  • *, – deleted 12 November 1886.
  • *, – deleted 8 November 1884.
  • Algérie class :
  • *, – deleted 15 July 1867.
  • Cérès class :
  • *, – deleted 8 November 1884.
  • Résolue class :
  • *, – deleted 31 December 1890.

Second class frigates, 24-pounder armed

Initially defined as frigates with a main armament of 24-pounder guns, this category was amended to define them as frigates of 58 guns, later either 52 or 50 guns.
  • Jeanne d'Arc class :
  • *, – deleted 26 October 1833.
  • *, – deleted 13 March 1841.
  • Clorinde class :
  • *, – deleted 26 October 1833.
  • Vestale class :
  • *, – deleted 26 May 1831.
  • *, – deleted 1847.
  • *, – deleted 28 December 1850.
  • Marie Thérèse class :
  • *, – renamed Calypso 9 August 1830; deleted 23 April 1856.
  • *, – deleted 20 July 1861.
  • Artémise class :
  • *, – deleted 3 October 1840.
  • *, – deleted 24 October 1860.
  • *, – deleted 30 December 1887.
  • *, – wrecked 10 August 1847 off Korea.
  • *, – deleted 31 December 1864.
  • *, – fitted as steam frigate 1857 – deleted 18 January 1878.
  • *, – deleted 13 May 1881.
  • *, – deleted 22 July 1872.
  • *, – deleted 11 May 1877.
  • *, – deleted 24 March 1872.
  • *, – deleted 18 October 1886.
  • Poursuivante class :
  • *, – deleted 31 December 1864.
  • *, – fitted as steam frigate 1857 – deleted 7 August 1868.
  • *, – deleted 13 May 1881.
  • Némésis class :
  • *, – deleted 19 April 1866.
  • *, – fitted as steam frigate 1857; deleted 2 November 1877.
  • *Another unit of this class – Clorinde at Brest – was cancelled in 1838.
  • Alceste class :
  • *, – deleted 31 May 1886; deleted 31 May 1886.
  • *, – deleted 23 June 1859.
  • Amazone class :
  • *, – fitted as steam frigate 1856–58; deleted 22 February 1877.
  • *, – deleted 15 February 1872.
  • Astrée class :
  • *, – deleted 13 February 1883.
  • *, – deleted 3 May 1877.
  • Magicienne class :
  • *, – deleted 19 April 1886.
  • *, – deleted 7 November 1882.

First class frigates, 30-pounder armed

Initially defined as frigates with a main armament of 30-pounder guns, this category was amended to define them as frigates of 60 guns.
  • ', :
  • *, – deleted 22 August 1844.
  • *, – renamed Indépendante 9 August 1830, deleted 24 October 1860.
  • *, – deleted 20 March 1845.
  • *, – wrecked off Bermuda 3 December 1838.
  • *, – deleted 19 March 1861.
  • *, – wrecked 16 February 1855 off Bonifacio.
  • *, – deleted 17 August 1869.
  • *, – deleted 23 October 1883.
  • *, – deleted 23 October 1883.
  • Iphigénie class :
  • *, – deleted 1 July 1872.
  • Terpsichore class :
  • *, – deleted 6 February 1839.
  • ', :
  • *, – renamed Caroline on launching but reverted to Dryade 9 August 1830 – deleted 9 May 1838.
  • *, – deleted 28 March 1867.
  • *, – fitted as steam-assisted frigate 1858 – deleted 15 November 1878.
  • *, – deleted 28 May 1888.
  • *, – deleted 3 May 1877.
  • Uranie class :
  • *, – deleted 31 December 1864.
  • Persévérante class :
  • *, – deleted 28 March 1867.
  • *Two probable sisters at Brest – Jeanne d’Albret and Valentine – were cancelled in 1831.
  • Vengeance class :
  • *, – deleted 19 April 1866.
  • *, - deleted 6 July 1885.
  • *, – deleted 13 February 1880.
Note that four 74-gun ships of the line were cut down during the 1820s, to become 1st class frigates of 58 guns, retaining their two complete gundecks, but with the gaillards removed. They carried 28 × 36-pounder guns, 28 × 36-pounder carronades, and 2 × 18-pounder guns: