French corvette Faune (1804)

Faune was a French naval Palinure-class brig-corvette launched in 1804 to a design by François Pestel in 1803. She participated in the capture of HMS Blanche in July 1805. The Royal Navy captured Faune in August 1805. She was taken into service as HMS Fawn, but the last record of her dates to 1806. In 1807 the Royal Navy launched a new HMS Fawn (1807).

Career
On 19 July 1805 Faune was part of a squadron of four vessels that captured Blanche off Puerto Rico, three days after they had left Martinique. The other three were the 40-gun French frigate Topaze, the 22-gun corvette Department des Landes, and the 18-gun Torche. Faune was under the command of Lieutenant Charles Brunet.

About one month later, Faune, still under the command of enseigne de vaisseau Brunet, was carrying dispatches from Fort-de-France to Saint-Nazaire via Saint-Martin-de-Ré. When she was southwest of Ouessant, on 15 August, she had the misfortune to encounter HMS Camilla (1776). Camilla chased Faune for nine hours before capturing her at Lat. 45 Deg. 18 Min. N. Long. 7 Deg. 36 Min. The 74-gun, third rate HMS Goliath (1781) was in the Channel Fleet when she saw a sail to eastward and three sail to westward. Goliath sailed east and joined the chase, helping Camilla to capture Faune. Faune was armed with 16 guns and had a crew of 98 men. She also had on board as prisoners 22 men from Blanche.

After Goliath helped Camilla capture Faune, she set off after the other three French vessels. Raisonnable joined Goliath and they were able to capture Torche, which the Royal Navy took into service as HMS Torch, but Topaze and Department-des-Landes escaped.

Captain Robert Barton of Goliath sent Faune into Portsmouth with Camilla. Barton reported that Faune was a new ship, on her first voyage, from Martinique, extremely fast, and would make a good addition to the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy took Faun into service as HMS Fawn. However, after 1806 there are no records of her.