French corvette Subtile (1777)

Subtile was a 24-gun corvette of the French Navy

History
France
Name	Subtile
Builder	Rochefort.
Laid down	May 1777 [1]
Launched	7 November 1777 [1]
Fate	Hulked 1789
General characteristics
Displacement	320 tonnes [1]
Length	35.7 metres [1]
Beam	9.1 metres [1]
Draught	4.7 metres [1]
Propulsion	Sail
Armament	20 to 26 guns
Armour	Timber

Career

From 1777 to 1778, she was under Lieutenant Bidé de Maurville.^[2]

During the War of American Independence, Subtile served in the Indian Ocean in a squadron under Rear-Admiral Thomas d'Estienne d'Orves.^[3] Lieutenant Périer de Salvert was in command from 13 September 1780 to 1 November.^[4]

On 9 February 1782, Estienne d'Orves died and Suffren assumed command of the squadron. He re-appointed his captains and gave Tromelin de La Nuguy command of Subtile.^[5]

She took part in the Battle of Negapatam under Huon de Kermadec on 6 July 1782.^{[6][7] [Note 1]}

In the year 1787, she sailed for a cruise to China with Résolution (under Bruni d'Entrecasteaux), arriving on 7 February 1787, two days after Lapérouse had left. ^[8]

In November 1788, she was decommissioned in Toulon and became a hulk in 1789. ^[8]

Notes

1. Cunat appears to have misread Kermadec's name as "Kermadie".^[6]