The French ship Tigre was a 74-gun ship of the line built for the French Navy, notable for its active service during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. As a 74-gun vessel, Tigre was a formidable third-rate ship designed for line-of-battle tactics, featuring a typical three-deck configuration capable of delivering significant firepower. Commissioned under her first captain, Pierre Jean Van Stabel, Tigre played a key role early in her career, notably participating in a 1793 rescue mission to save the French frigate Sémillante alongside the ship of the line Jean Bart. She served as the flagship of Van Stabel's squadron after his promotion, underscoring her importance within the French fleet. Under the command of Jacques Bedout, Tigre saw action at the Battle of Groix, during which she was captured by the British. Following her capture, she was recommissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Tigre and served throughout the Napoleonic Wars. Her service included participation in the defense of Acre during Napoleon Bonaparte’s siege in 1799. Her crew's involvement in this engagement earned them the clasp "Acre 30 May 1799" to the Naval General Service Medal, awarded in 1850. On January 8, 1801, Tigre was present when the British ship Penelope captured the French bombard St. Roche, a vessel laden with goods from Marseilles to Alexandria, in which Tigre shared in the prize money. Tigre also served in the Egyptian campaign of 1801, qualifying her crew for the "Egypt" clasp to the Naval General Service Medal, awarded in 1850. After the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, she continued blockading Cadiz and participated in various cutting-out expeditions, including the 1809 attack at the Bay of Rosas. During this action, boats from Tigre contributed to the destruction and capture of enemy vessels, earning prize money and later recognition with the clasp "1 Nov. Boat Service 1809." Tigre’s active career concluded with her being broken up in June 1817, marking the end of a distinguished service record that included notable battles and campaigns during a pivotal period of naval warfare.

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