Action of 1796/04/20, 20th April 1796

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Action of 1796-04-20

20th April 1796
Part of : The French Revolutionary Wars (1793 - 1802)
Previous action : Attack on Leogane 21.3.1796
Next action : Capture of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice 23.4.1796 - 2.5.1796
 

Great Britain

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Indefatigable (38) Sir Edward Pellew (1757-1833)
Amazon (36) Robert Carthew Reynolds (1745-1811)
Concorde (36) Anthony Hunt (d.1798)
 

République Française

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Virginie (40)  
 

Notes on Action


DescriptionTRN4
Sir Edward Pellew, in the Indefatigable, 44, with the Amazon, 36, Captain Robert Carthew Reynolds, and Concorde, 36, Captain Anthony Hunt, sighted the French Virginie, 40, Captain Bergeret, off the Lizard. The three British ships at once crowded all sail and stood after the enemy. The wind was south-east, and prevented the Virginie from retreating to Brest. After a fifteen hours' chase the Indefatigable got close enough to begin a running fight. At about midnight the action commenced. After an hour and three-quarters' firing the Virginie lost her mizen-mast and main-top-mast, and the Indefatigable her mizen-topmast and gaff. By reason of these injuries the British ship shot ahead and was all but raked. She was repairing damages when the Concorde came up astern of the Virginie, whereupon the latter struck in a very crippled condition, with four feet of water in her hold. The Virginie had been bravely fought against a very superior force.
Previous comments on this pageno comments to display
Make a comment about this page





Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Sunday 24th of January 2021 04:42SEObyAxy Robert Young (c.1734-1797)
Thursday 21st of January 2021 00:26CyBritish Fifth Rate frigate 'Hebe' (1782) (38)
Wednesday 20th of January 2021 20:29ELAINE HENDSTOCKBritish Fifth Rate frigate 'Hebe' (1782) (38)
Sunday 17th of January 2021 23:27Margaret Picard George Sidney Smith (1793-1732)
Sunday 17th of January 2021 22:57Margaret PicardSir William Sidney Smith (1764-1840)
Copyright © Cy Harrison 2010-2021, all rights reserved
GDPR Statement