The Hébé class was a class of six 40-gun frigates of the French Navy, designed in 1781 by Jacques-Noël Sané. * Hébé Builder: Saint Malo Begun: December 1781 Launched: 25 June 1782 Completed: August 1782 Fate: Captured by British Navy on 4 September 1782. The British took her into service and in 1805 renamed her HMS Blonde. Hébé became the model for the British Leda-class frigates, the first of which was HMS Leda. Hébé, therefore, has the rare distinction of being the model for both a French and a British frigate class. * Vénus Builder: Brest Begun: November 1781 Launched: 14 July 1782 Completed: October 1782 Fate: wrecked on 31 December 1788 in the Indian Ocean. * Dryade Builder: Saint Malo Begun: 1782 Launched: 3 February 1783 Completed: Apr