Trisha Shetty (Editor)

HMS Ambuscade (1773)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Name
  
HMS Ambuscade

Laid down
  
April 1771

Captured
  
14 December 1798

Launched
  
1773

Ordered
  
25 December 1770

Commissioned
  
January 1776

Name
  
Embuscade

Builder
  
Deptford

HMS Ambuscade (1773) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

HMS Ambuscade was a 32-gun fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy, built in the Grove Street shipyard of Adams & Barnard at Depford in 1773. The French captured her in 1798 but the British recaptured her in 1803. She was broken up in 1810.

Contents

American Revolution

HMS Prudente captured the "private man of war" Américaine on 26 January 1781. She was armed with 32 guns and carried a crew of 245. HMS Ambuscade shared in the proceeds of the capture.

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. Six days later Ambuscade captured the French privateer Prince de Montbray. The privateer was possibly out of Granville and under the command of Captain Boisnard-Maisonneuve.

French Revolutionary Wars

In August 1798 Ambuscade, commanded by Captain Henry Jenkins, with Stag and the hired armed cutter Nimrod captured the chasse maree Francine . Then Ambuscade shared with Phaeton and Stag, in the capture on 20 November of the Hirondelle.

On 13 December 1798, Ambuscade captured a French merchantman, Faucon, with a cargo of sugar and coffee bound for Bordeaux.

Disaster struck the following day. 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. The French brought her into service as Embuscade.

Napoleonic Wars

On 28 May 1803, HMS Victory recaptured her. She had a crew of 187 men under the command of capitaine de vaisseau Fradin, and was 30 days out of Cap Francais, bound for Rochefort. 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.

On 4 March 1807, Ambuscade captured the ship Istria. Unité, Melpomene, Bittern and Weazel (or Weazle)were in company and shared in the prize money.

Fate

Ambuscade was broken up in 1810.

References

HMS Ambuscade (1773) Wikipedia