Action of 10 August 1805
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| Action of 10 August 1805 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Trafalgar campaign of the War of the Third Coalition | |||||||
 H.M. frigate Phoenix, 36 guns, attacking the French frigate La Didon, 44 guns, 10 August 1805 Francis Sartorius Jr. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| United Kingdom | France | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Thomas Baker | Pierre Milius | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1 frigate | 1 frigate | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
12 killed 28 wounded[1] |
27 killed 44 wounded 260 captured 1 frigate captured[2] | ||||||
The action of 10 August 1805 was a minor naval engagement between two frigates of the British Royal Navy, HMS Phoenix and the French Navy Didon as part of the Napoleonic Wars.[3] After an hour of action Didon surrendered to Phoenix.[1]
Thomas Baker took command of HMS Phoenix on 28 April 1803.[4][5] He was assigned to the Channel Fleet under Admiral William Cornwallis, and on 10 August 1805 he came across the 40-gun French frigate Didon off Cape Finisterre.[4][6]
Prior to the sighting Phoenix had intercepted an American merchant, en route from Bordeaux to the United States. The American master had been invited onto Phoenix, sold the British some of his cargo of wine, and had toured Phoenix before being allowed to continue on his way.[7] Phoenix had at this time been altered to resemble from a distance a large sloop-of-war. Didon, which was carrying despatches instructing Rear-Admiral Zacharie Allemand's five ships of the line to unite with the combined Franco-Spanish fleet under Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, intercepted the American merchant and from him received news that a 20-gun British ship was at sea and might be foolish enough to attack Didon.[7]
Didon's commander, Frigate Captain Pierre Milius, decided to await the arrival of the British ship, and take her as a prize.[7]
Battle
On 10 August 1805, the two vessels met off Cape Finisterre. Phoenix was able to approach and engage Didon before the French realised that she was a larger frigate than they had anticipated.[7] At 8am Didon hoisted French colours and an hour later the fighting commenced. Didon opened fire upon Phoenix still coming down but Phoenix made no return and Captain Baker intended to pass and engage to leeward of the French ship. In the meantime Didon raked the British frigate while Baker therefore determined to close with his adversary.[7] Phoenix ranged up alongside Didon and engaged within pistol shot but was to far windward and having too much way upon her soon drew ahead of the French ship.[1] Didon took advantage of this by luffing across the stern of Phoenix and poured in a raking broadside.[2]
Didon then bore up and again raked Phoenix and was about to do this again but Baker counteracted the movement. The French crew then made a vigorous but unsuccessful attempt to board in which the Royal Marines were able to repel the French boarders.[8] After this had lasted about three quarters of an hour a breeze sprung up and caused Didon to forge ahead by which more guns from Phoenix were brought to bear and they became again engaged broadside to broadside. The superiority of the fire of Phoenix however soon began to tell and after a short time the two ships separated.[1]
Phoenix, having repaired her damages, was about to renew the action when Didon's foremast soon toppled over. This caused more damage to the already damaged foremast leaving her an unmanageable wreck.[8] With this situation and the heavy casualties Didon soon struck her colours at 43°16′N 12°14′W / 43.267°N 12.233°W.[3] The action lasted several hours, with Baker on one occasion having his hat shot off his head.[8] Phoenix had twelve killed and 28 wounded; the French sustained losses of 27 killed and 44 wounded.[2]