French frigate Sibylle (1777)

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Sibylle.

Sibylle was a 32-gun copper-hulled, frigate of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.

Sibylle (left) at the action of 2 January 1783
History
France
Name	Sibylle
Builder	Brest. Plans by Jacques-Noël Sané [1]
Laid down	April 1777 [1]
Launched	1 September 1777 [1]
Commissioned	November 1777 [1]
Fate	Captured by the British Royal Navy in 1783 and broken up in 1784
General characteristics [1]
Class & type	Sybille-class
Tons burthen	600 tonnes
Length	43.8 metres
Beam	11.2 metres
Draught	5.4 metres
Propulsion	Sail
Complement	260
Armament	Gun deck: 26 × 12-pounder guns quarterdeck: 8 × 8-pounder guns
Armour	Timber

Career

Sibylle took part in the Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778, under Sébastien Mahé de Kerhouan.^[1][2] She was part of the division under Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte that captured 18 British merchantmen in the action of 2 May 1781.^[1]

In 1783, Sibylle was under Captain Théobald René de Kergariou-Locmaria. On 2 January, she fought a hotly contested, and ultimately inconclusive action of 2 January 1783 against HMS Magicienne.^[1]

Sibylle effected repairs and returned to the sea, but ended up being captured by HMS Centurion and Hussar in the action of 22 January 1783.^[1]

Fate

The British broke up Sibylle in 1784.^[1]