The fort first saw use during the French invasion of Malta in June 1798. At the time, it was commanded by the Bavarian knight Joseph Maria von Rechberg, and had a garrison made up of men from the "Cacciatori", who were a volunteer chasseur light infantry regiment, as well as some bombardiers from the ship "San Zaccharia" and some Maltese militia. Fort Tigné was armed with 28 guns and 12 mortars as follows, but only 15 of the guns were serviceable: