French Frigate Preneuse (1794)

The ''Preneuse'' was a 44-gun frigate of the French Navy, lead ship of her class, designed by Raymond-Antoine Haran and built at Rochefort. She served as a commerce raider at Île de France.

Career

In 1795, ''Preneuse'' was stationed at Rochefort under Captain Larcher. She was then transferred to the Indian Ocean station, commanded by Rear-Admiral Sercey.

In 1796, she was at Mauritius under Captain Ravenel, at Port-Nord-Ouest.

In March 1798, under Lhermitte, she ferried ambassadors from Mysore sent by Tippu Sultan to île de France to request help against the British. Near Tellicherry, ''Preneuse'' found two East Indiamen, and at Tellicherry; she attacked and captured both on 20 April, after a one-hour battle. She left the diplomatic mission at Mangalore, and sailed to Batavia.

She was soon joined by the 22-gun corvette , which ferried Rear-Admiral Sercey. The squadron sailed to Surabaya, where a settlement was established. A small mutiny broke out when ''Preneuse''s crew refused to let go of the British flags captured at Tellicherry; Lhermitte had to personally confront the mutineers with his sabre to re-establish discipline. He then had a firing squad execute five of the mutineers.

After a short stay at Surabaya, ''Preneuse'' and ''Brûle-Gueule'' sailed for a three-month cruise, capturing 40 British merchantmen and participating in the Macau Incident. After returning to Subaraya, Sercey set his flag on ''Preneuse'' and the squadron sailed for île de France.

They arrived in May 1799, encountering the British blockade composed of three ships of the line, one frigate and one brig. The French ships reached Rivière Noire District, where they were joined by a number of coastal ships offering assistance. ''Preneuse'' and ''Brûle-Gueule'' anchored in the bay. They sent seven 18-pounders ashore and the French built an improvised fort to guard the entrance of the bay; it sustained a 3-week siege before the British retreated.

In August 1799, ''Preneuse'' departed for a patrol near Cape of Good Hope and Madagascar. On 4 September, she fought against five British ships. In September, she fought against a 64-gun ship of the line.

''Preneuse'' also attempted to supply arms to the Graaff Reinet Republic of Adriaan van Jaarsveld. On the 20th, she sailed into Algoa Bay under Danish colours but was recognised. ''Preneuse'' exchanged cannon fire with the 16-gun ship-sloop and the armed store ship ''Camel'', before retreating.

On 9 October 1799, as ''Preneuse'' neared Good Hope, the 54-gun encountered her and gave chase. After 22 hours, ''Jupiter'' gained on ''Preneuse'', and the two vessels exchanged fire. ''Preneuse'' managed to outmaneuver ''Jupiter'' and rake her; the British then retreated to avoid being boarded, and managed to escape.

On 11 December 1799, as she returned to Île de France, ''Preneuse'' encountered the 74-gun , under Captain John Osborn, off Port Louis. ''Tremendous'' gave chase. As ''Preneuse'' closed to the land, the 50-gun , under Captain William Hotham, cut her escape route. While ''Preneuse'' was attempting to sail under the protection of the coastal forts at Baie-du-Tombeau, erratic winds drove her ashore. The British closed in and battered ''Preneuse'', which Lhermitte then deemed lost. He had the crew abandon ship, while he stayed behind with his officers, struck the colours and scuttled the frigate. British boats attempted to recover ''Preneuse'', but she came under fire from the coastal batteries and they abandoned the attempt.

The British took ''Preneuse''s officers to ''Adamant'', where Commodore Botham treated them with courtesy. He released Lhermitte on parole the next day.

Citations

References

Naval History of Great Britain – Vol II
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* « L'Hermitte (Marthe-Adrien, baron) » in Charles Mullié, ''Biographie des célébrités militaires des armées de terre et de mer de 1789 à 1850'', Poignavant, Paris, 1852
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Preneuse (1794)
Preneuse-class frigates
Age of Sail frigates of France
1794 ships
Ships built in France
Shipwrecks in the Indian Ocean