Sagittaire was designed by Coulomb, but as he had to leave for a mission to Malta, Chapelle supervised her launch. On 13 April 1778,
Sagittaire departed Toulon in a squadron under
Admiral d'Estaing, along with
Languedoc,
Tonnant,
César,
Zélé,
Hector,
Guerrier,
Marseillais,
Protecteur,
Vaillant,
Provence and
Fantasque. She fought at the
Battle of St. Lucia on 15 December 1778, where she was tasked to bombard the British battery on the Southern peninsula, along with the 32-gun
Chimère. On 8 July,
Sagittaire and
Fantasque forced the frigate
HMS Mermaid to beach herself at Cape Henhlopen. On 9 June 1779,
Vengeur and
Sagittaire, along with the frigates
Chimère and
Aimable, departed for Martinique under
Brach as a distraction to cover
Du Rumain's departure, who was sailing for his
Capture of Saint Vincent with
Lavely,
Lys and four transports. On 14 July, under
Albert de Rions,
Sagittaire captured the
Grenadines, along with
Fantasque, under
Suffren, and the frigates
Lively and
Fortunée. On 15 December 1778, she took part in the
Battle of St. Lucia. Two days later, she helped
Iphigénie capture
HMS Ceres. On 23 September,
Sagittaire captured the 50-gun
HMS Experiment, which carried 118,819 piastres. In late 1779, she returned to Toulon, along with
Experiment. Around 1781 she had six 6-pounder guns added on quarterdeck and forecastle, while replacing the 24-pounder guns on the lower gun deck with 18-pounders. In March 1781,
Sagittaire departed France, under Montluc de la Bourdonnaye, along with
Experiment, under Médine, to join the French squadron off Rhode Island. In April 1782, De Grasse sent them to escort a convoy and put them out of danger from Hood's squadron. == Fate ==