|
The ''Concorde'' was a 32-gun frigate of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. Built in Rochefort in 1777, she entered service with the French early in the American War of Independence, and was soon in action, capturing in the West Indies. She survived almost until the end of the war, but was captured by in 1783. Not immediately brought into service due to the draw-down in the navy after the end of the war, she underwent repairs and returned to active service under the White Ensign with the outbreak of war with France in 1793 as the fifth-rate HMS ''Concorde''. Initially part of squadrons cruising off the French coast, she played an important part in the Action of 23 April 1794, capturing the French frigate ''Engageante'', and at a later engagement, where she helped to capture the French frigate ''Virginie''. From 1797 until the early 19th century she had especial success against privateers, capturing a large number in the West Indies and in the Atlantic. She had a narrow escape from a superior French force in 1801, but was able to batter her pursuer, the 40-gun ''Bravoure'' into submission. She was prevented from capturing her by the arrival of French reinforcements. Her last years were spent on a variety of stations, including at the Cape of Good Hope and the East Indies. Laid up in 1807, she was sold for breaking up in 1811. ==Construction and French career== ''Concorde'' was one of a three-ship class of ''Concorde''-class frigates built for the French Navy to a design by Henri Chevillard. She was built at Rochefort between April 1777 and January 1778, being launched on 3 September 1777.〔 She went out to the West Indies after the French entry to the American War of Independence, and reached Martinique on 17 August 1778. On 28 August 1778 she came up on the 32-gun , under Captain John Stott, and after two and a half hours of fighting, captured her.〔 ''Minerva'' was towed to Cap Français on Saint-Domingue, where she was joined shortly afterwards by the captured , which had been dismasted in a hurricane in late August and was taken on 1 September by the French frigates ''Charmante'' and ''Dédaigneuse''. In 1781 ''Concorde'' was responsible for vital transfers of personnel, funds, and communications that contributed to the allied success at Yorktown. In March 1781 she carried despatches to George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau from France. These despatches included a request from the comte de Grasse, commander of the West Indies fleet, for information on planned allied operations and the delivery of pilots familiar with the American coast. She also carried 6 million livres to support the war effort, and the new commander of the French naval squadron at Newport, Rhode Island, the comte de Barras.〔Dull, p. 293〕 Following a conference of allied leaders in May, ''Concorde'' was sent to Cap-Français with despatches for de Grasse and the requested pilots.〔Dull, p. 242〕 When de Grasse received these despatches, he made the critical decision to sail his fleet to the Chesapeake Bay to assist in land operations against British forces operating under the command of Charles Cornwallis in Virginia. ''Concorde'' carried de Grasse's letters for Washington, Rochambeau, and de Barras back to Newport; arrival of this news set in motion Washington's march to Virginia and the eventual entrapment of Cornwallis at Yorktown.〔Dull, pp. 243–245〕 On 7 January 1783, ''Concorde'' was in company with ''Nymphe''. They sighted HMS ''Raven'', which initially sailed towards them until she realized that they were not British frigates. An all-day chase ensued until about 9p.m. when one of the frigates got within pistol-shot and fired a broadside that shot away ''Raven''s main topgallant-mast. The chase continued until about 10:30p.m. when one of the frigates was again in range, with the other coming up rapidly. At this point, ''Raven'', which was under the command of Commander John Wells, struck. The French Navy took ''Raven'' into service under the name ''Cérès'', which she had born when under French colours between 1778 and 1782. On 15 February the 74-gun , under Captain Robert Linzee, sighted ''Concorde''. ''Magnificent'' had sailed from Gros Islet Bay on 12 February on a cruise in company with the 64-gun ships and , and on sighting the strange sail, ''Magnificent'' gave chase. She was close enough to identify the mysterious ship as a frigate by 18:00, and by 20:00 as darkness fell ''Concorde'' opened fire on her pursuer with her stern guns.〔 ''Magnificent'' overhauled the French ship by 21:15, and after fifteen minutes forced her to strike her colours.〔 ''Magnificent'' took possession of ''Concorde'', the latter being described as carrying 36 guns and 300 men, and being under the command of M. le Chevalier du Clesmaur. Shortly after surrendering the ''Concorde''s maintopsail caught fire, forcing the crew to cut away the mainmast to extinguish it.〔 ''Prudent'' and ''St Albans'' came up two hours later and ''Magnificent'' towed ''Concorde'' to St. John's, Antigua.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「HMS Concorde (1783)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|