[1] Fantasque was a member of Admiral Jean-François de La Clue-Sabran's fleet as it sailed from Toulon on 5 August 1759.

[1] In 1778, Fantasque was part of the squadron under Admiral d'Estaing supporting the rebels in the War of American Independence, under Captain Suffren.

[4] Suffren was leading a division, with his flag on Fantasque, which he personally captained,[5] along with the frigates Aimable, Chimère and Engageante.

[6] The mission of his force was to support Franco-American efforts in the Battle of Rhode Island by striking a 5-frigate British squadron anchored in Narragansett Bay, off Newport,[7] comprising HMS Juno, Flora, Lark, Orpheus and Cerebus.

On 5 August 1778, Suffren entered the Bay and anchored next to the British, who cut their cables and scuttled their ships by fire to avoid capture.