| HMS Ambuscade (1773) | |
|---|---|
 Ambuscade fighting Bayonnaise, by Pierre Ozanne | |
| Career (United Kingdom) |  |
| Name: | HMS Ambuscade |
| Builder: | Depford |
| Launched: | 1773 |
| Captured: | 14 December 1798 |
| Career (France) |  |
| Name: | Embuscade |
| Acquired: | 14 December 1798 |
| Captured: | 28 May 1803 |
| Career (UK) | |
| Name: | HMS Ambuscade |
| Acquired: | 28 May 1803 |
| Fate: | Broken up in 1810 |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class & type: | 32-gun fifth-rate frigate |
| Length: | 45 metres |
| Beam: | 12 metres |
| Draught: | 6 metres |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement: | 212 |
| Armament: |
Upperdeck: 26 x 12-pounder guns |
HMS Ambuscade was a 32-gun fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy, built at Depford in 1773. The French captured her in 1798 but the British recaptured her in 1803. She was broken up in 1810.
American Revolution[]
On 22 June 1779, after a short action, Ambuscade captured the French brig Hélene, which was the former Royal Navy 14-gun sloop HMS Helena. The Royal Navy took her back into service under her original name.[1][2] Six days later Ambuscade captured the French privateer Prince de Montbray.[2] The privateer was possibly out of Granville and under the command of Captain Boisnard-Maisonneuve.[3]
French Revolutionary Wars[]
In August 1798 Ambuscade, commanded by Captain Henry Jenkins,[4] with Stag and the hired armed cutter Nimrod captured the chasse maree Francine .[5] Then Ambuscade shared with Phaeton and Stag, in the capture on 20 November of the Hirondelle.[6]
Combat de la Bayonnaise contre l'Ambuscade, 1798, by Louis-Philippe Crépin
Ambuscade was blockading Rochefort, when the smaller French corvette Bayonnaise captured her at the Action of 14 December 1798. The court martial exonerated Captain Henry Jenkins of Ambuscade, though a good case could be made that he exhibited poor leadership and ship handling.[7] The French brought her into service as Embuscade.
Napoleonic Wars[]
On 28 May 1803, HMS Victory recaptured her. The Royal Navy took her back into service as Ambuscade.
In March 1805, she was attached to Sir James Craig's military expedition to Italy. Along with Dragon, Craig's flagship, and Lively, Ambuscade escorted a fleet of transports to Malta.[8]
On 4 March 1807, Ambuscade captured the ship Istria. Unité, Melpomene, Bittern and Weazle were in company and shared in the prize money.[9]
Fate[]
Ambuscade was broken up in 1810.
Pierre Ozanne's depiction of Ambuscade towing Bayonnaise back to harbour, with the difference in size between the ships exaggerated
Citations[]
- ↑ Demerliac (1996), p.71, #448.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "No. 12044". 28 December 1779. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/12044/page/
- ↑ Demerliac (1996), p.184, #1810.
- ↑ Wareham (2001), p.137.
- ↑ "No. 15113". 5 March 1799. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/15113/page/
- ↑ "No. 15149". 18 June 1799. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/15149/page/
- ↑ Hepper (1994), p.89.
- ↑ von Pivka, Navies.
- ↑ "No. 16529". 8 October 1811. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16529/page/
References[]
- Demerliac, Alain (1996) La Marine De Louis XVI: Nomenclature Des Navires Français De 1774 À 1792. (Nice: Éditions OMEGA). ISBN 2-906381-23-3
- Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650-1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
- Otto von Pivka (1980). Navies of the Napoleonic Era. David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-7767-1.
- Wareham, Tom (2001) The star captains: frigate command in the Napoleonic Wars. (Annapolis, Md. Naval Inst. Press). ISBN 978-1-55750-871-3
- Michael Phillips' ships of the old Navy
- Naval history of Great Britain, by William James
The original article can be found at HMS Ambuscade (1773) and the edit history here.