Abstract

Survey work was undertaken on the wreck of the French frigate La Surveillante, part of a planned invasion force of Ireland in an attempt to overthrow English rule, which was lost in Bantry Bay off the southwestern coast of Ireland in January 1797. Some of the published background history of French frigates describes a similar type to La Surveillante. Archaeological investigations found that preservation on the wreck is exceptional for Irish waters and that its study offers a valuable insight into the structure, morphology, and role of the frigate in the later part of the 18th century.