French xebec Singe (1762)

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Singe.

Singe was a Renard-class xebec of the French Navy, launched in 1762. She served in the Mediterranean against the Barbary pirates, and is notable for a number of important officers who served aboard, notably Flotte, Raimondis and Suffren.

Singe

Model "13 MG 14" on display at the Musée national de la Marine
History
France
Name	Singe
Namesake	monkey
Ordered	9 December 1761 [1]
Builder	Toulon Dockyard [1]
Laid down	March 1762 [1]
Launched	3 July 1762 [1]
In service	27 July 1762 [1]
Out of service	1779 [1]
Fate	Sold 1780
General characteristics
Class and type	Renard-class xebec
Tons burthen	200 tonnes
Length	37.4 metres
Beam	9.1 metres
Depth of hold	3.5 metres
Armament	20 guns

Career

In 1763, Singe patrolled the Mediterranean with her sister-ship Caméléon and the frigate Pléïade, to ward off the Salé Rovers.^[2] On 15 July 1763, Singe mistakenly engaged a galiot from Algiers, which she mistook for a Salé rover. Pléïade intervened fired two broadsides into the galiot, which sank with all hands before the error was realised. This triggered a diplomatic incident and Captain Fabry had to negotiate a resolution to the crisis.^[3]

In 1763, Singe was under Suffren, part of a squadron under Duchaffault.^[4] She took part in the Larache expedition in June 1765.^[5]

In 1769, Singe off Porto-Vecchio under Raimondis.^[6]

Fate

Singe was sold in Toulon in 1780.^[1]

Legacy

A 1/28.8 scale model of Singe is on display at the Musée national de la Marine in Paris.^[7]