French frigate Melpomène (1828)

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Melpomène.
Model showing characteristics and original painting scheme
Model showing characteristics and original painting scheme of Belle Poule, sister-ship of the French frigate Melpomène (1828). Model on display at Toulon naval museum.
History
French Navy Ensign (1814–1830) French Navy EnsignFrance
NameMelpomène
NamesakeMelpomene
BuilderCherbourg
Laid down17 May 1825
Launched28 July 1828
Commissioned1 March 1830
Decommissioned1 October 1833
Out of service1845
Stricken1870
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Class and typeSurveillante-class frigate
Displacement2500 tonnes
Length54 metres (177 ft)
Beam14.10 metres (46.3 ft)
Draught3.80 metres (12.5 ft)
Propulsionsail
Complement301
Armament
ArmourTimber

Melpomène was a Surveillante class 60-gun first rank frigate of the French Navy.

Career

Melpomène was commissioned in March 1830, in time to take part in the Invasion of Algiers in 1830, and was decommissioned on 28 October after the events.

The next year, on 7 February, she was recommissioned amidst growing tensions with Portugal, and she took part in the blockade, and the subsequent Battle of the Tagus, under Captain de Rabaudy. Arrived the first French warship, she was also the last to depart.

Fate

In October 1833, she was again decommissioned, never to serve again. She was condemned in 1845, and used as a masting crane in Toulon under the name Travailleuse from 1865.

References

  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours, 1671 - 1870. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.