What Napoleon wanted was a ship whose hull could be split into eight sections, joined by screw bolts so that she could be dismantled, carried in 10 wagons over land, and then be re-assembled on reaching water again.

This would permit the French to transfer the ship from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, there being no Suez Canal at the time.

Her consorts, the demi-chébecs Cerf and Lejoille, ran aground; Ligurienne resisted until 6pm before striking her colours.

[4] Some British accounts declare that Cerf was a total loss but that the French were able to salvage Lejoille.

[6] In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Peterel 21 March 1800" to the two surviving claimants from the action.