HMS ''Abeille'' was a

French Navy The French Navy (, , ), informally (, ), is the Navy, maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the four military service branches of History of France, France. It is among the largest and most powerful List of navies, naval forces i ...

14-gun

cutter Cutter may refer to: Tools * Bolt cutter * Box cutter * Cigar cutter * Cookie cutter * Cutter (hydraulic rescue tool) * Glass cutter * Meat cutter * Milling cutter * Paper cutter * Pizza cutter * Side cutter People * Cutter (surname) * Cutt ...

launched in 1793 under the name ''Bonnet Rouge'' that captured in 1796. She was taken into the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

as HMS ''Abeille'', but apparently never served and was broken up in 1798.

French service and capture

''Abeille'' was a ''Montagne''-class cutter built to a design by Daniel Denÿs and launched in October 1793 at

Saint-Malo Saint-Malo (, , ; Gallo language, Gallo: ; ) is a historic French port in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany (administrative region), Brittany. The Fortification, walled city on the English Channel coast had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth ...

as ''Bonnet Rouge''. Between March and July 1795, while under the command of ''ensigne de vaiseau'' Denis, she cruised between Brest and

Loctudy Loctudy (; ) is a fishing port and seaside resort in Brittany, France, at the mouth of the Pont-l'Abbé river estuary. The commune is in the Finistère department in northwestern France. Situated on the peninsula of Penmarc'h in the far southw ...

, and return. She then cruised in the Gulf of Gascony with the division under the command of Contre-Admiral

Vence Vence (; ) is a commune set in the hills of the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France, north of Nice and Antibes on the Mediterranean coast. Ecclesiastical history The first known Bishop ...

. She was at the First Battle of Groix in June 1795, but like all the smaller vessels, did not participate in the action.''Fonds Marine'', p.146. She was officially renamed ''Abeille'' on 30 May 1795. Later, under the command of ''lieutenant de vaisseau'' Denis-Lagarde, she was stationed at the

Île de Batz The Île de Batz (; ) is an island off Roscoff in Brittany, France. Administratively, it is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. Climate Île de Batz has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classificatio ...

. On 2 May 1796, ''Dryad'', under Acting-Commander John Pullin, captured ''Abeille'' some 16 or 17 leagues off

The Lizard The Lizard () is a peninsula in southern Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The southernmost point of the British mainland is near Lizard Point at SW 701115; The Lizard, also known as Lizard village, is the most southerly region on the ...

. At the time, ''Abeille'' was three days out of Brest and had not taken anything. The Royal Navy took her into service under her existing name.

Fate

There is no record that HMS ''Abeille'' ever actually served in the Royal Navy. She was broken up in 1798.Winfield (2008), p.356.

Citations

References

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Abeille (1796) Cutters of the Royal Navy Captured ships 1793 ships Cutters of the French Navy