French frigate Forte (1794)  Forte was a French 42-gun frigate, lead ship of her class. Launched on 26 September 1794 and commissioned two months later under Commander Beaulieu-Leloup, "Forte" was part of a large frigate squadron under contre-amiral Sercey, also comprising "Prudente", "Régénérée", "Vertu", "Seine", "Cybèle" and "Preneuse". The division sailed to Ile de France to raid commerce in the Indian Ocean. On 15 May 1796 "Forte", "Vertu", "Seine", and "Régénérée" were cruising between St Helena and the Cape of Good Hope hoping to capture British East Indiamen when they encountered the British whaler on her way to Walvis Bay. The French took off her crew, except for two seamen and a boy, and put "Forte"s fourth officer and 13-man prize crew aboard "Lord Hawkesbury" with orders to sail to Île de France. On her way there one of the British seamen, who was at the helm, succeeded in running her aground on the east coast of Africa a little north of the Cape, wrecking her. There were no casualties, but the prize crew became British prisoners. "Forte" took part in the Action of 8 September 1796, where the frigates drove off two British 74-guns. In 1797, "Forte" and "Prudente" were sent to Batavia to ferry troops. Command of "Forte" was given to Captain Ravenel. Against the wishes of Sercey, General Malartic restored Beaulieu to command. While operating in the Bay of Bengal in early 1799, "Forte" captured a number of vessels. These were (with their master's name in parentheses): "Recovery" (M'Kinley), (Johnson). "Yarmouth" (Beck), "Endeavour" (Eastwick), "Earl Mornington" (Cook), and (Moore). "Forte" also captured two unnamed vessels. She made a cartel of one of her captures and sent her into Madras. On 24 February 1799, "Forte" encountered the East Indiaman . A sharp single-ship action developed, with "Osterley" losing four men killed and 13 wounded before she struck. "Forte" spent two days or so transferring some of "Osterley"s cargo before he let her and her crew proceed.