Engageante was a 26-gun frigate of the French Navy, only ship of her class, built to a design by Jean-François Etienne.

[3][4] On 5 July 1778, as Engageante was scouting in front of D'Estaing's squadron, she detected the 26-gun British privateer frigate Rose, under Captain James Duncan.

Engageante returned to her squadron to report on the event; deeming Rose irretrievable, the French scuttled her.

[9][7] From 1781, she took part in the American Revolutionary War, including the Hudson Bay Expedition in 1782, with Astrée and the 74-gun Sceptre.

[10][11] The copper sheathing of the ships made them especially vulnerable in arctic waters, and Engageante suffered the most,[12] damaging her bow so much that she had to call into Cadiz for repair.

[13] The crew also suffered from scurvy: by the time Engageante arrived in Europe, all had been affected; around 100 were too sick to work, and 15 had died.