Action of 1803/09/02, 2nd September 1803

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  • John MooreBritish
    Naval Sailor
    Service 1646-1679
  • Hebe (38) 1782-1811
    British 38 Gun
    5th Rate Frigate
    1805 Renamed "Blonde"
    (1782)
  • Daniel WaudbyBritish
    Naval Sailor
    Service 1739-1779
  • Culloden (74) 1783-1813
    British 74 Gun
    3rd Rate Ship of the Line
    (1783)
  • Dragon (64) 1744-1783
    Spanish 64 Gun
    3rd Rate Ship of the Line
    (1744)
  • Centurion (60) 1733-1769
    British 60 Gun
    4th Rate Ship of the Line
    1744 Renamed "Eagle"
    1745 Renamed "Centurion"
    (1733)
  • Centurion (60) 1733-1769
    British 60 Gun
    4th Rate Ship of the Line
    1744 Renamed "Eagle"
    1745 Renamed "Centurion"
    (1733)
  • Windsor (60) 1695-1725
    British 60 Gun
    4th Rate Ship of the Line
    (1695)
  • Welcome 1686-1688
    British Merchant East Indiaman
    (1686)
  • Samuel BurgessBritish
    Naval Sailor
    Service 1790-1830
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Action of 1803-09-02

2nd September 1803
Part of : The French Revolutionary Wars (1793 - 1802)
Previous action : Capture of the Duquesne 25.7.1803
Next action : Bombardment of Calais 27.9.1803
 

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Tonnant (80) 1798-1821
British 80 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Sir Edward PellewBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1776-1814
 no casualties
Culloden (74) 1783-1813
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Barrington DacresBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1796-1807
 4 Wounded
 

République Française

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Le Duguay Trouin (74) 1800-1805
French 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
  no casualties
La Guerrière (38) 1799-1806
French 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
  6 killed, 17 Wounded
 

Notes on Action


DescriptionTRN5
On September 2nd, at 4 A.M., Calder, in the Prince of Wales, 98, whilst running in for Cape Ortegal, sighted the Duguay Trouin and the Guerriere. They immediately headed for Corunna; and Sir Edward Pellew's squadron, which was watching Ferrol, got under full sail and endeavoured to cut them off. The wind, however, was so strong in favour of the French that they escaped, after a hot chase by the Culloden, 74, Captain Barrington Dacres, and the Tonnant, 80, Captain Sir Edward Pellew. The Culloden alone got close enough to open fire. At about 11.50 A.M. she attacked the Duguay Trouin, and, a little later, the Guerriere. The Tonnant's main topgallant tie carried away and her jib split, which kept her behind the Culloden. The Duguay Trouin was the first to reach Corunna. The Culloden maintained her pursuit of the Guerriere, firing steadily the while, till, at 12.10 P.M., Calder made the signal to discontinue action, the British ships being at that time close to the neutral Spanish waters. The Tonnant, indeed, appears to have actually entered Spanish waters, as a Spanish fort fired at her. The Culloden's casualties were four men wounded. The Duguay Trouin seems to have come out of this second encounter with the British without loss or injury; but the Guerriere, according to information received by a British officer visiting Corunna, had 5 or 6 men killed, about 17 wounded, and her masts and yards crippled. Troude adds that her fore mast and mizen mast were so damaged as to be rendered unserviceable, and that amongst the wounded was Captain Baudoin.
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Cy on Friday 11th of December 2020 12:20

Thanks, corrected

Posted by Niek van Diepen on Friday 11th of December 2020 10:41

The Guerriere in this action is the French 38 gun frigate, not the ex-French 74 gun SOL, in British service since 1798.

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Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Tuesday 11th of May 2021 00:25Peter David Evans
John MooreBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1646-1679
Monday 10th of May 2021 20:32Elaine
British Fifth Rate frigate 'Hebe' (1782) (38) 1782-1811
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
1805 Renamed "Blonde"
Monday 10th of May 2021 12:46Jon Davies
Daniel WaudbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1739-1779
Monday 10th of May 2021 04:03Midi Berry
British Third Rate ship of the line 'Culloden' (1783) (74) 1783-1813
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Monday 10th of May 2021 01:31George Garcia
Spanish Third Rate ship of the line 'Dragon' (1744) (64) 1744-1783
Spanish 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
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