Recherche was a 20-gun Marsouin-class scow of the French Navy, later reclassified as a 12-gun frigate.

She earned fame as one of the ships of Bruni d'Entrecasteaux' expedition, along with Espérance.

The ship was built as Truite and served under this name until July 1791, when she was renamed to Recherche and recommissioned as a 12-gun frigate.

She departed from Brest on 29 September 1791 for an exploration mission in search of Lapérouse, sailing to New Caledonia.

On 28 October 1793, Recherche was captured by the Dutch at Surabaya, only to be returned to France in February 1794.