La Corned served at Isle de France (Mauritius), and from 1781 he was with the squadron under Suffren operating in the Indian Ocean as second Lieutenant on the 64-gun "Brillant". He took part in the Battle of Sadras on 17 February 1782, the Battle of Providien on 12 April 1782 and the Battle of Negapatam on 6 July 1782. On 14 July 1782, in the midst of Suffren's reshuffling of his captains after the Battle of Negapatam, La Corne was given command of the 32-gun frigate "Fine".