Prévoyante (1793)

Capture of La Prevoyante and La Raison by Thetis and Hussar, by Thomas Whitcombe
History
France
Name:	Prévoyante
Laid down:	1791
Launched:	May 1793
Captured:	May 1795
UK
Name:	HMS Prevoyant
Acquired:	May 1795 by capture
Fate:	Sold for breaking up in July 1819
General characteristics
Tons burthen:	804  15⁄94 (bm)
Length:	143 ft 0 in (43.6 m) (overall);121 ft 110 1⁄2 in (39.7 m) (keel)
Beam:	35 ft 2 1⁄2 in (10.7 m)
Depth of hold:	13 ft 40 in (5.0 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Complement:	French store ship: 100-200 British frigate: 284 British storeship:90
Armament:	French store ship Lower gundeck:Pierced for ten but unarmed Upper gundeck (UD):24 x 8-pounder guns British frigate UD: 30 x 12-pounder guns QD:4 x 9-pounder guns + 8 x 18-pounder carronades Fc:2 x 9-pounder guns + 2 x 18-pounder carronades British storeship:14 x 6-pounder guns (UD) + 4 x pounder guns (QD)

Prévoyante was the second of two flûtes (supply or store ships) built to a design by Raymond-Antoine Haran. She was launched in May 1793 at Bayonne. The British frigates HMS Thetis and HMS Hussar captured Prévoyante in 1795 and the British took her into the Royal Navy after first converting her to a fifth rate. She served as a frigate until 1800, when she underwent reconversion back to a store ship. As a store ship she sailed to the Mediterranean, Cape of Good Hope, and Quebec. She was sold for breaking up in July 1819.

In late 1794, Admiral Jervis signed a safe-conduct pass for Prevoyante so that she could repatriate British prisoners of war.

On 2 May 1795 Rear Admiral George Murray sent Captain Alexander Cochrane in Thetis, together with Hussar, to intercept three French supply ships reported at Hampton Roads. At daybreak on 17 May the British came upon five ships 20 leagues West by South from Cape Henry. The French made a line of battle to receive the British frigates. An action commenced, with three of the French vessels eventually striking their colours. Thetis took possession of the largest, which turned out to be Prévoyante, pierced for 36 guns but only mounting 24. Hussar captured a second, Raison, pierced for 24 guns but only mounting 18. One of the vessels that had struck nonetheless sailed off. Two of the five had broken off the fight and sailed off earlier. (The three that escaped were Normand, Trajan, and Hernoux.) An hour after she had struck, Prévoyante's main and foremast fell over the side. In the battle, Thetis had lost eight men killed and nine wounded; Hussar had only two men wounded.

Four of the French ships had escaped from Guadeloupe on 25 April. They had sailed to American ports to gather provisions and naval stores to bring back to France.