The French brig Brave, launched in 1793 at Le Havre, was a brig-rigged gun-brig classified as a corvette-canonnière. She measured approximately 258 tons burden and was armed with six long 24-pounder guns, manned by a crew of around 92 men. The vessel was constructed as part of a two-vessel class of canonnières and initially operated in the Bay of Audierne, with her early service including convoy escort duties between Le Havre and Brest, and dispatch carrying operations between Verdon and the Gironde estuary under the command of sous-lieutenant de vaisseau Massard and later enseigne de vaisseau Bourhis. In May 1795, she was renamed Arrogante as part of a French Navy reclassification. Notably, she engaged British forces in April 1796 at Audierne roads under Lieutenant Le Bastard. Her operational history includes multiple escort missions, stationing at Brest, Camaret, and Audierne, and participation in significant naval encounters. On 23 or 24 April 1798, while escorting a convoy from Audierne to Brest, Arrogante encountered British frigates HMS Jason and HMS Naiad in the Iroise Sea. She was captured by the British during this engagement and taken into Royal Navy service. Once in British hands, she was initially commissioned as HMS Arrogante, later renamed HMS Insolent in August 1798. She underwent refitting from February to April 1801 and was recommissioned under Lieutenant Burians. Her service included participation in the destruction of the wrecked HMS Jason in August 1801, and she was involved in various patrols and captures along the French coast and in the North Sea. Notably, she played a role in the Battle of Basque Roads in April 1809, contributing to the blockade and engagement against French forces. Throughout her career, Insolent captured several French vessels, including the frigate Centaure and chasse maree Marie, and was rerated as a brig-sloop in 1810 for service in the North Sea and Baltic regions. Her operational history extended into the War of 1812, and she was part of the Channel Fleet, earning recognition through the Naval General Service Medal. She was paid off in 1815 and sold in 1818 for £860, marking the end of her distinguished service.

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