French frigate Hermione (2014)

The Hermione is a 12-pounder Concorde class frigate, completed in Rochefort by the Asselin organisation in 2014. She is a reproduction of the 1779 Hermione, which achieved fame by ferrying General Lafayette to the United States in 1780 to allow him to rejoin the American side in the American Revolutionary War.

Construction
This project was conceived by members of the Centre International de la Mer in 1992, and construction began in 1997, envisaging a launch in April 2015 (as compared to the original, which took less than a year to build).

The shipyard was in one of the two dry docks beside the Corderie Royale at Rochefort.

As far as possible, traditional construction methods were used although modern power tools were substituted for the period tools on some jobs. The site is open to the public, and admission fees help fund the project.

English plans of a sister ship, HMS Concorde (1783), were used. The cost was estimated to be $22 million. The original plans had been modified in several ways for reasons of strength and safety: planks had been bolted rather than pegged to avoid movement during the long period of construction. Similarly, the mast sections were fastened with glue rather than metal hoops to avoid water penetration. The cannons are lightweight and non-functional to save weight, and for safety reasons. Hemp rigging was used, and the sails made of linen.

An engine will be used for safety, and electric generators for lighting and basic amenities.

2015 voyage
In preparation for a transatlantic voyage in 2015, the frigate departed from Rochefort and started her sea-worthiness trials on 7 September 2014.

In April 2015, Hermione started her return voyage to the United States. Hermione’s itinerary is meant to reaffirm the relationship between the United States and France. Hermione departed from La Rochelle on 18 April 2015.

Gallery
Photographs of the reconstruction from 2005.