Action of 13 August 1780

Action of 13 August 1780 Part of the Anglo-French War Date 13 August 1780 Location Off the Old Head of Kinsale Result British victory Belligerents  Great Britain  France Commanders and leaders John MacBride Chevalier de Clonard Strength 2 ships 1 third rate 1 fifth rate 1 Ship of the line Privateer Casualties and losses 3 killed & 21 wounded 1 ship of the line captured 21 killed & 35 wounded 590 captured[1]

The Action of 13 August 1780 was a minor naval battle fought off the Old Head of Kinsale (County Cork, Ireland) in which the 64-gun Privateer French ship of the line, Comte d'Artois, fought two British Royal Navy ships, Bienfaisant and Charon, during the Anglo-French War.

After Royal Navy admiral George Rodney successfully brought relief to the defenders of Gibraltar, capturing a Spanish convoy off Cape Finisterre and eight days later winning the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, his fleet returned to Britain in March 1780. One of the ships of his fleet, the HMS Bienfaisant, under John MacBride, sailed back with them and kept a watch of the Irish coast in order to report if there were any movements by Spanish and French fleets in the area.^[1]

Reports arrived in early August 1780 of a large French privateer, the 64-gun Comte d'Artois, which had sailed from Brest to cruise off the Irish south coast, and was at once to be dealt with.^[2] MacBride with the Bienfaisant was ordered to sail with the 44-gun HMS Charon to capture the Comte d'Artois.^[2] After several days in search of the vessel, a mysterious sail was finally sighted early on 13 August, chasing after some of the ships of a British convoy departing from Cork.^[3]

Action

MacBride ranged up and fell in with the unidentified ship, which hoisted English colours. Both ships came within pistol shot, and it was not until there was some communication between the two ships, that MacBride could be satisfied of her identity.^[2] By now the two ships were so close, with Bienfaisant off the Comte d'Artois's bow, that neither ship could bring their main guns to bear.^[2] Instead both ships opened fire with muskets until MacBride could manoeuvre away and a general action ensued.

After an hour and ten minutes the French vessel surrendered. She proved to be the Comte D'Artois, a private ship of war, mounting 64 guns, and 644 men, commanded by the Chevalier Clonard. Clonard himself was slightly wounded. Of his crew, 21 men were killed and 35 wounded. Bienfaisant had three men killed and 20 wounded.^[4] The Charon had only joined the action towards the end of the engagement and only had a single man wounded.^[4]

The capture had an unusual sequel, as just over a year later and under a different captain, Bienfaisant captured another privateer, this time named Comtesse d'Artois.^[5]

References

Citations

1. Marshall, John (1823). Royal Naval Biography. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown,. p. 501.
2. Charnock. Biographia Navalis. p. 559.
3. Campbell. Naval History of Great Britain. p. 277.
4. Campbell. Naval History of Great Britain. p. 278.
5. Winfield. British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792. p. 91.

Bibliography

• Syrett, David (1998). The Royal Navy in European Waters During the American Revolutionary War. Univ of South Carolina Press. ISBN 1570032386.
• Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84415-700-6.