Action of 10 August 1780

The action of 10 August 1780 was a minor naval engagement that took place off Brest during the American Revolutionary War between a Royal Navy frigate and a French Navy frigate.[1] This was the first engagement thought to involve the use of the carronade.[2]

10 August 1780
Part of the American Revolutionary War

The action between HMS Flora & the French frigate Nymphe off Ushant on 10th August, 1780 by Dominic Serres
Date10 August 1780
Location
Off Ushant
Result British victory
Belligerents
 Great Britain  France
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Great BritainWilliam Williams Kingdom of France Charles-Marie du Rumain (DOW)
Strength
1 frigate 36 gun 1 frigate 32 gun
Casualties and losses
9 killed & 17 wounded 1 frigate captured,
51 killed,
81 wounded
159 POW[1]

Events
Background

The 36-gun frigate HMS Flora (1780) under Captain William Williams was patrolling off Ushant not far from Brest on the afternoon of 10 August 1780.[3] Flora, as well as her nominal armament also carried six recently-introduced 18-pounder carronades.

Through the haze she sighted two vessels, a square-rigged vessel and a cutter, about four miles away. As Flora approached, the cutter edged away, while the square-rigged vessel waited, accepted battle.[4]

Action
Naval battle at Ushant, 1780, engraved by Robert Pollard, after Robert Dodd

When the two ships were within two cables length the French ship raised her colours and opened fire.[5] Moving in, for over an hour the two frigates battered each other relentlessly; Flora being much cut up, moved closer in which the carronades were able to sweep the decks of the French ship with grapeshot. After another 15 minutes the French abandoned their guns and attempted to board, but Flora's crew repulsed the attempt. An explosion of a box of cartridges aboard the Frenchman added further to the carnage. Flora's crew then boarded the French vessel and within moments the French vessel struck. She proved to be the frigate La Nymphe, pierced for 40 guns, but mounting only 32, and commanded by the Chevalier Charles-Marie de Trolong du Rumain, who died that evening of his wounds with command being passed to Lieutenant Pennandref de Keranstret.[4]

Aftermath

Flora's guns were heavier, 18- and 9-pounders, against the French ship's 12- and 6-pounders. The effect of the new carronades on Flora is reflected in the number of casualties; 9 killed and 17 wounded on Flora out of a crew of 259, and 55 killed and 81 wounded aboard La Nymphe, from a crew of 291.[1] Nymphe was transferred into the Royal Navy (as HMS Nymphe) the following March after repairs at Portsmouth Dockyard.[3]

In the aftermath of La Nymphe being taken by Flora, the Navy Board quickly became enamoured of the carronade and the weapon’s effectiveness in combat. As a result they were soon mounted on many Royal Navy ships.[2]

References
  1. Clowes, W. Laird (1899). The Royal Navy, a history from the earliest times to present. Vol. IV. London, UK: S. Low, Marston, Co. p. 56.
  2. "Introducing the Carronade: The Debut Under Fire". Age Of Sail. WordPress.com. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  3. Winfield p. 208
  4. Hiscocks, Richard. "Flora v Nymphe – 10 August 1780". More Than Nelson. Web & Prosper. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  5. "No. 12110". The London Gazette. 15 August 1780. p. 4.
Bibliography
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817 (2nd ed.). London, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84415-717-4.
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