L'Unité - Designed by Pierre-Alexander Forfait and built in Le Havre ( Normandy ) in 1794.
Originally classified as a Corvette, with a 218 crew complement , it was armed with 32 - 8 pounder french gun, later rearmed with more powerful guns, and classified as Frigate.
It was a highly successful project, recognized for its excellent navigability and speed.
Captured by the English frigate HMS Inconstant ( 1796 ), she was renamed HMS Surprise in the Royal Navy, and sold in 1802.
I started my model, from the L'Unité original plans provided by the National Maritime Museum / Greenwich , some parts of the Artesania Latina kit / H.M.S. Surprise, a lot of research in the Musée National de la Marine ( Paris ) , and Jean Boudriot's book collection.
Photos : copper plates
