The French corvette Robuste, constructed in Nantes in 1789, was initially built as a slaver vessel. She measured roughly 22 guns during her service in the French Navy, serving primarily in the Channel. Her first notable voyage was a slave-trading expedition undertaken in 1789-90 under Captain J.B. Magré, during which she embarked 339 slaves and disembarked 305 at Les Cayes, experiencing a 10% loss rate. The vessel’s voyage involved sailing from Nantes to West Africa, then to the West Indies, indicating her dual commercial and military utility. In her naval career, Robuste was operational between Lorient and the Loire, escorting convoys and patrolling the French coast in 1795. By April 1796, she was engaged in convoy escort duties under Lieutenant de vaisseau Gautreau. Her service was interrupted when HMS Pomone captured her off Penmarch Point in April 1796 while she was en route from Brest to L'Orient. The Royal Navy then commissioned her as HMS Scourge in August 1796, under Commander Henry Richard Glynn. As HMS Scourge, she proved active in the Caribbean, capturing multiple French privateers and vessels. Notable captures include the privateer Difficile in February 1797, the privateer Furet in the same month, and the schooner Sarazine in September 1797. She also seized the schooner Amazon and several other privateers, such as Triomphe and Chasseur, in 1798. Her operations extended to capturing Spanish vessels, exemplified by her seizure of a Spanish brig from Cádiz in January 1799. Throughout her service, Scourge was instrumental in disrupting French privateering efforts, particularly in the West Indies. She participated in convoy escort duties and captured numerous enemy vessels, demonstrating her role in maritime security during the period. Her active service concluded in 1800, after which she returned to Britain. The Royal Navy sold her in 1802, marking the end of her notable naval career. Her transition from a slave ship to a naval vessel and her involvement in anti-privateer operations highlight her maritime significance during the late 18th century.

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