HMS Shannon page 1
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This is the story of the frigate HMS Shannon,
and his duel with the American frigate USS Chesapeake
HMS Shannon was a 38-gun Leda class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1806 and served during the Napoleonic wars and the war of American independence of 1812.
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Career |
(Great Britain) |
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Name |
HMS Shannon |
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Builder |
Brindley, Frindsbury |
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Launched |
5 may 1806 |
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State |
Disarmed and destroyed by 12 November 1859 |
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Class and type |
38 Guns Leda class frigate |
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Meter |
951 tons |
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Length |
150 ft 2 in ( 45.7 m ) |
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Width |
39 ft (11.9 m ) |
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Complement |
330 men |
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Armament |
Upper deck: 28 x 18 pounder guns Quarterdeck: 1 x 6 pdr long gun 2 x 9 pdr guns 2 x 12 pdr carronades 1x 12 pdr boat-carronade 14 x 32 pdr carronades Forecastle: 2 x 9 pdr guns 2x 32 pdr carronades |
The HMS Shannon was built by Brindley, at Frindsbury in Kent, and launched on 5 may 1806. She was one of the largest frigates built by the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, at a time when the Admiralty concentrated on building them in larger numbers but smaller and with less heavy armament. . Indeed, British Admirals regularly complain of not having enough frigates.
Quickly put into service, she formed part of a squadron under Commodore Owen which was patrolling off Boulogne, and on 8 October took part in the bombardment of the town
She then sailed in 1807 with HMS Meleager to protect the whale’s fishery off Greenland
By the end of 1807, after the Declaration of war from Portugal, HMS Shannon joined Sir Samuel Hood's expedition against Madeira. The island was taken without a shot being fired after a show of force. The frigate then returns to patrol in the English channel, and on 27 January 1809 captures the 14-guns french privateer schooner Pommereuil . On 1 June 1811 HMS Shannon returns to Plymouth to re-copper hull.
When relations deteriorated between the United States and Great Britain, Broke ordered to leave for North America. He arrived in Halifax on 24 September 1811 after a journey of 45 days.
In July 1812 he was given command of a squadron consisting of HMS Shannon, HMS Africa, HMS Belvidera, HMS Aeolus and later HMS Guerriere, with orders to carry out the blockade of American ports. On 16, he captured the 16-guns american brig Nautilus off Sandy Hook. Later in the evening, the squadron gave chase to the American frigate USS Constitution. The chase lasted 65 hours, during which both pursued and pursuers had to tow and warp. On the evening of July 17, a favourable breeze rises and allows the USS Constitution to escape.
On 31 october 1812, he captures the american privateer brig Thorne.
In 1813, during a patrol with his squadron, Broke is separated from HMS Tenedos in a gale, and decided to go to Boston, where he arrived on 2 april. He observed the presence of American frigates USS Constitution and USS President. Shortly after the USS Chesapeake will also enter the port of Boston.
Broke was ordered to watch with the HMS Tenedos, while the rest of the squadron cruised off.
On 16 May they chased a large armed ship under American colours, and forced her to run aground near Cape Ann Town. Shannon anchored close the grounded ship and fired a few shorts to disperse the militiamen who were assembling. Lieutenant George Watt then managed to bring the ship off the shore, what he do without loss. She was discovered to be the French privateer corvette Invincible. She had already been captured in the Bay of Biscay by HMS Mutine, but retaken by the privateer American Alexander.
