She was funded by a don des vaisseaux donation from the Estates of Flanders, and built by engineer Léon Guignace on a design by Antoine Groignard.

[1] Activated for the American Revolutionary War, Flamand was assigned to Suffren's squadron in the Indian Ocean.

[1] At the Battle of Sadras, on 17 February 1782, Suffren ordered the 64-gun Ajax, under René Joseph Bouvet de Précourt, and Flamand, under Cuverville, to attack the British line to leeward.

They both maneuvered to this effect, but then Tromelin, on Annibal, countermanded the order by signaling Ajax and Flamand to return to their post in the line of battle.

[1] Flamand took part in the Battle of Cuddalore the next year; after her commanding officer, Lieutenant Perier de Salvert, was killed, her first officer, Jacques Trublet de Villejégu, assumed command.