Forte-class frigate

The Forte class was a class of two large frigates of the French Navy, designed in 1794 by François Caro. They carried 30 24-pounder long guns as their main battery and 20 x 8pdrs on the quarterdeck and forecastle; they were exceptionally large and powerful heavy frigates for their time.

• Forte

Builder: Lorient

Begun: 30 May 1794

Launched: 26 September 1794

Completed: November 1794

Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 1 March 1799, became HMS Forte, wrecked in January 1801 in the Red Sea.

• Égyptienne

Builder: Toulon

Begun: 26 September 1798

Launched: 17 July 1799

Completed: November 1799

Fate: Captured by the British Navy on 2 September 1801, became HMS Egyptienne, sold for breaking up 30 April 1817

• 
  Plans of the hull of Forte

Forte class

Portrait of Égyptienne by Jean-Jacques Baugean
Class overview
Name:	Forte
Builders:	Lorient, Toulon
Operators:	French Navy  Royal Navy
Preceded by:	Résistance class
Succeeded by:	Romaine class
Completed:	2
General characteristics [1]
Type:	50-gun Forte class frigate
Tonnage:	1012 tons (port measurement); 2,042 tons displacement
Length:	52 m (171 ft) (gundeck); 48 m (157 ft) (keel)
Beam:	13 m (43 ft)
Draught:	5.85 m (19.2 ft)
Depth of hold:	5.66 m (18.6 ft)
Sail plan:	Full-rigged ship
Armament:	30 24-pounder long guns (in the upper deck) 20 8-pounder long guns (6 on the forecastle, 14 on the quarterdeck) 4 36-pounder caronnades[2]
Notes:	Ships in class include: Forte, Égyptienne.

References

1. Roche, op. cit.
2. Troude, op. cit., p.173

• Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours 1 1671 - 1870. p. 208. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
• Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). "Combats particuliers 1799". Batailles navales de la France. Challamel ainé. pp. 171–174.
• Rif Winfield and Stephen S. Roberts, French Warships in the Age of Sail, 1786-1861 Seaforth Publishing, 2015, ISBN 978-1-84832-204-2.