Action of 15 February 1783
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The Action of 15 February 1783 was a small naval engagement which was fought off Guadeloupe between the French Navy frigate Concorde of 36 guns and the Royal Navy 74-gun ship of the line Magnificent. The British were victorious when Concorde was overhauled and captured.[1]
Captain Charles Inglis was given command of a squadron of four ships cruising independently in the West Indies. The squadron, consisting of HMS St Albans, the 64-gun Prudent, the 74-gun HMS Magnificent under Captain Robert Linzee and the sloop HMS Barbados, had arrived in St. Lucia. They were to eventually help blockade Cap-François off Saint-Domingue with the help of ships of the line from the Jamaica station.[2] On 12 February reports arrived of a French squadron, consisting of Triton, Amphion and several frigates, having sailed from Martinique and so the squadron was sent to investigate.[3][4]
Magnificent sailed from Gros Islet Bay in Bay on 12 February 1783 in company with Prudent and St Albans. On 15 February 1783 a French frigate was sighted just past Guadeloupe island by Magnificent. The frigate was the Concorde carrying 36 guns and 300 men, and was under the command of Chevalier du Clesmaur.[2] Magnificent gave chase and by 20:00 as darkness fell Concorde opened fire on her pursuer with her stern guns.[2] Magnificent however overhauled the French ship by 21:15, and after fifteen minutes of fighting including a devastating broadside, forced her to strike her colours. Magnificent then took possession of Concorde.[2]
Shortly after surrendering, the Concorde's maintopsail caught fire, forcing the crew to cut away the mainmast to extinguish it.[2] Prudent and St Albans arrived two hours later and Magnificent towed Concorde to St. John's, Antigua.[2] Concorde served in the Royal Navy as HMS Concorde until being broken up in 1811.[4]
Notes & References
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