The Minerve class was a type of 40-gun frigate of the French Navy, carrying 18-pounder long guns as their main armament.

Six ships of this type were built at Toulon Dockyard, and launched between 1782 and 1794.

The Royal Navy captured all six between 1793 and 1799 and took them into service, with all but one serving in the Napoleonic Wars, and some thereafter.

Sainte Catherine further redesigned the class for the sixth, final frigate.

However, the more rounded hull form of the Minerve-class vessels' found favour with the Royal Navy, leading it to copy the design.