Vésuve was an 18-gun Etna-class corvette of the French Navy, launched in 1795. She was decommissioned in 1815 and broken up in 1830.
Career At the action of 30 May 1798 Vésuve and the French corvette Confiante battled the frigate , the bomb vessel , and the cutter . Confiante and Vésuve ran aground. The British were able to destroy Confiante but they were unable to reach Vésuve, which the French later refloated.
Vésuve served at Le Havre under lieutenant de vaisseau Rousseau between 15 nivôse and 23 prairial An XI (5 January to 12 June 1801).Fonds Marine, Vol. 1, p.294. Between November 1801 and February 1802 she was at Le Havre being fitted as a flûte of 20 guns.
In February 1807 she was refitted as a 20-gun corvette.
By 1 February 1812, she served at Cherbourg under lieutenant de vaisseau Le Chosel.Fonds Marine, Vol. 2, p.457. On 17 March, she crossed from Le Havre to Cherbourg. From 1 September to 6 October 1813, she served under lieutenant de vaisseau Valette in Cherbourg.Fonds Marine, Vol. 2, p.473.
In 1814, after the Bourbon Restoration, Vésuve was sent with the 74-gun Lys and the frigate Érigone to retake possession of Martinique. Vésuve was commanded by lieutenant de vaisseau Burgues de Missiessy, who was promoted to captaine de frégate during the cruise.Fonds Marine, Vol. 2, pp. 495-496. The squadron arrived at Fort Royal on 5 October 1814. Vésuve departed Fort-de-France on 7 April 1815 and arrived at Rochefort on 8 August.Fonds Marine, Vol. 2, pp. 501.
Fate On 31 July 1815, Vésuve received approval to serve as a headquarters hulk at Rochefort in place of Serpente. Vésuve was broken up in 1830.
Citations
References Fonds Marine. Campagnes (opérations; divisions et stations navales; missions diverses). Inventaire de la sous-série Marine BB4. Tome premier: BB210 à 482 (1805-18826) Fonds Marine. Campagnes (opérations; divisions et stations navales; missions diverses). Inventaire de la sous-série Marine BB4. Tome deuxième : BB4 1 à 482 (1790-1826)