The French ship La Bienvenue, launched in Le Havre in 1788, was a 20-gun warship classified as a flûte, a type of vessel designed for troop transport and cargo, with auxiliary armament. Built by esteemed shipbuilders Gouet and Deros, she was constructed between November 1787 and June 1788, with her launch occurring on 7 May 1788. Her dimensions were approximately 130 feet (42.2 meters) in length, 31 feet (10.1 meters) in beam, and a depth of 15 feet 7 inches (4.9 meters), with a tonnage of 699 tons burthen. She was originally armed with twenty 8-pounder cannons, utilizing the French livre de Paris as a measurement for her armament. Throughout her service, La Bienvenue experienced several ownership and name changes amid the turbulent conflicts between France and Britain. Notably, she briefly became a Royalist vessel in October 1792 before reverting to her original name in January 1793. Her operational history included a voyage from Mauritius to France in December 1791, during which she was seized by her crew and handed over to the British, who renamed her HMS Undaunted. However, she was retaken by Royalist forces at St. Kitts in October 1792 and renamed Royaliste, before returning to her original name. While serving as a prison ship at Martinique from July 1793, La Bienvenue played a role in the British campaign to seize the island in early 1794. During the Battle of Martinique in March 1794, she was moored between Fort St Louis and Fort Royal. Her crew, under the command of Captain Faulknor, participated heroically in the assault on Fort Royal, with Faulknor leading a daring charge that resulted in the fort's capture. For his actions, Faulknor was promoted to captain and took command of La Bienvenue. Later, the vessel was commanded by Captain James Carpenter and then Henry William Bayntun. She was taken to England, arriving at Sheerness in September 1794, and was subsequently renamed HMS Undaunted on 30 March 1795. Her British service was brief; she was sold in July 1795 after only 16 months under British control. La Bienvenue’s varied career exemplifies the turbulent naval history of the late 18th century, marked by rapid changes in ownership, notable combat actions, and her role in larger strategic operations during the French Revolutionary Wars.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.