French frigate Aglaé (1788)

The Aglaé was a 32-gun Charmante-class frigate of the French Navy, launched in 1788. Designed by engineer François Pestel, she was one of several frigates built to a common design during the pre-Revolutionary era.

Service History:

Details of the Aglaé's early service are somewhat sparse, but she served during the French Revolutionary Wars. The Aglaé participated in various patrols and convoy escort duties in the Atlantic.

Notable engagements included actions against British shipping, although specific details of her successes or failures are often lacking in available records. Due to the turbulent nature of the French Revolution, and subsequent conflicts, documentation regarding individual ship movements and engagements from this period can be incomplete or contradictory.

Fate:

The precise date and circumstances of the Aglaé's decommissioning or loss are difficult to ascertain definitively. Some sources indicate she may have been decommissioned or disarmed by the early 1800s, possibly due to her age and the changing strategic priorities of the French Navy under Napoleon. Other accounts suggest she may have been captured or lost at sea. Further research would be required to confirm the precise details of her fate.

Class Characteristics:

The Charmante-class frigates were designed for speed and maneuverability, making them suitable for scouting, commerce raiding, and escort duties. They typically carried a main battery of 12-pounder guns on the upper deck and 6-pounder guns on the quarterdeck and forecastle.