French frigate Alcmène (1774)

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Alcmène and HMS Alcmene.

Alcmène was 26-gun frigate of the French Navy, designed by Doumet, lead ship of her class. She notably took part in the War of American Independence.

History
France
Name	Alcmène
Ordered	27 September 1772 [1]
Builder	Toulon [1]
Laid down	May 1773 [1]
Launched	14 June 1774 [1]
Captured	20 October 1779 by the Royal Navy
Fate	Sold 1784
General characteristics
Class and type	Alcmène-class frigate
Type	frigate
Tons burthen	500 to 950 tonnes
Length	40.3 metres
Beam	10.4 metres
Depth of hold	4.8 metres
Propulsion	Sails
Armament	26 × 12-pounder long guns

Career

In 1775, Alcmène cruised in the Caribbean with the 18-gun corvette Flèche. In 1776, she was under Suffren.^[1]

In 1778, she was part of the French expeditionary forces to America, under Bonneval, and blockaded Rhodes Island. ^[1] In August, she destroyed a British corvette and two galley, along with Aimable.^[1]

On 16 August 1779, Alcmène was sent to escort a convoy, along with the 64-gun Protecteur and the 50-gun Fier. A storm scattered the escort and damaged Alcmène, which had to throw most of her guns overboard to stay afloat. On 20 October 1779, as Alcmène was nearing Martinique, she encountered HMS Proserpine which captured her.^[1]

Fate

The British took Alcmène in service as HMS Alcmene. She was sold in 1784.^[1]