 | ||
Throughout naval history during times of war battles, blockades, and other patrol missions would often result in the capture of enemy ships or those of a neutral country. If a ship proved to be a valuable prize efforts would sometimes be made to capture the vessel while inflicting the least amount of damage as was practically possible. Both military and merchant ships were captured, often renamed, and then used in the service of the capturing country's navy, or in many cases sold to private individuals who would break them up for salvage, or use them as merchant vessels, whaling ships, slave ships, or the like. As an incentive to search far and wide for enemy ships, the proceeds of the sale of the vessels and their cargoes were divided up as prize money among the officers and crew of capturing crew members with the distribution governed by regulations the captor vessel's government had established. Throughout the 1800s war prize laws were established to help opposing countries settle claims amicably. Private ships were also authorized by various countries at war through a Letter of marque, legally allowing a ship and commander to engage and capture vessels belonging to enemy countries. In these cases contracts between the owners of the vessels on the one hand, and the captains and the crews on the other, established the distribution of the proceeds from captures.
Contents
- Legend
- Quasi War
- First Barbary War
- French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
- Battle of Copenhagen
- Napoleonic Wars continued i
- Battle of Trafalgar
- Napoleonic Wars continued ii
- 18101819
- War of 1812
- Second Barbary War
- Chilean war of independence
- 18201829
- West Africa Squadron
- War of the Confederation
- Texas Revolution
- 1839
- 18401849
- MexicanAmerican War
- First Schleswig War
- 18501859
- 18601869
- American Civil War
- Second Schleswig War
- Chincha Islands War
- Ten Years War
- War of the Pacific
- 18801889
- First Sino Japanese War
- SpanishAmerican War
- References
Legend
Quasi-War
The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought mostly at sea between the United States and French Republic from 1798 to 1800. France, plagued by massive crop failures and desperately in need of grain and other supplies, commissioned numerous French privateers who both legally and illegally captured cargo from merchant vessels of every flag engaged in foreign trade with Britain. Approximately 300 American ships were captured by the French Navy and privateers under a Letter of marque issued by the government of France. International law mandated that a ship captured during wartime by a belligerent was lost to the owner, and that no compensation was to be made by the country who seized a vessel unless provided for by a treaty that ended that war.
A 20-gun French corvette Letter of marque captured by the USS Boston commanded by George Little serving in the squadron of Silas Talbot. Deux Anges (sometimes Two Angels in contemporary American accounts) was sent to Boston under Lieutenant Robert Haswell to be condemned by a prize court.
A Danish schooner captured by the USS Experiment commanded by Lieutenant Maley entering the Haitian port of Jacmel during the Quasi-War. Maley suspected it to be a French vessel and ordered it to Cape Francois where it was recaptured by the British.
English registered schooner commanded by H. Atkinson, captured by a French privateer and recaptured by American sloop of war USS Merrimack,
A French Letter of marque of 12 guns, captured by USS Enterprise, commanded by Captain John Shaw.
A 24-gun French corvette commanded by Capitain de frégate Senez, captured by USS Boston, commanded by Capt. George Little, unbeknown that the Quasi-War had ended several days earlier. She was towed to the United States, repaired and returned to France September 1801.
An American ship out of Baltimore, commanded by Captain Robert Thompson, captured by the Danes,
An American ship out of Baltimore, commanded by Captain Ezra Bowen, captured by the Danes,
First Barbary War
The First Barbary War (1801–5), was the first of the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War fought between the United States and the North African Berber Muslim states known collectively as the Barbary States. For years the Barbary Corsairs had harassed and captured British, French and American shipping, often capturing vessels seizing cargoes and holding crews for large ransoms or enslaving them. Refusing to pay tribute President Thomas Jefferson sent a fleet of ships to the Mediterranean shores of North Africa to deal with the constant threats to U.S. and other ships.
A brig cruiser belonging to the Emperor of Morocco. Captured by USS Philadelphia, commanded by William Bainbridge.
A frigate that ran aground in the Mediterranean leaving it at the mercy of the Barbary corsairs of Tripoli. She was recaptured and burned in Tripoli harbor three and a half months later by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur.
A ketch built in France in 1798 for Napoleon's Egyptian expedition, later sold to Tripoli and renamed Mastico. Captured by USS Enterprise and USS Constitution under the commands of Stephen Decatur and William Bainbridge respectively. Renamed USS Intrepid, was one of several vessels under the command of Stephen Decatur which recaptured and destroyed the USS Philadelphia 16 February 1804.
Former British privateer, Transfer out of Malta, later sold to Tripoli and used in blockade running during the Barbary Wars. Captured off Tripoli, by Syren commanded by Lieutenant Charles Stewart. She was renamed the USS Scourge.
French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against the French Republic and Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1792 to 1815 involving many often large scale naval battles resulting in the capture of numerous ships. Among the most notable of such battles were the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of Copenhagen involving hundreds of ships and many thousands of seamen and officers.
A 74-gun ship of the line, originally the British HMS Swiftsure, commanded by Captain Hallowell, captured by the French fleet, commanded by Admiral Ganteaume. She was later recaptured at the Battle of Trafalgar.
A Résistance class frigate of 40 guns, commanded by Capitain de Vaisseau Citizen F. M. Pitot, attacked and captured in the Mona Passage during the French Revolutionary Wars by HMS Seine of the Royal Navy, commanded by Captain David Milne. Renamed HMS Vengeance.
A 16 gun British sloop and fireship, commanded by Captain Richard Dun, captured by the French navy at Cape de Gat.
A 32-gun fifth rate frigate .launched in 1781, captured by the French and recaptured by the British the same year.
Captured by the French navy.
Battle of Copenhagen
The Battle of Copenhagen was a naval battle involving a large British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, defeating and capturing many of the Danish-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson led the main attack.
A 60-gun ship of the line in the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy. She was commissioned in 1775, captured at the Battle of Copenhagen.
Captured, burnt
Abandoned, captured, burnt
Abandoned, captured, burnt
Driven ashore, captured, burnt
Captured and burnt
captured and burnt
Captured and burnt
Captured and burnt
Captured and burnt
Captured and burnt
List of Danish sail frigates
List of ships of the line of Denmark
Napoleonic Wars (continued i)
A 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the British Royal Navy, launched on 15 April 1786, named after Hannibal Barca. Ran aground and captured during the first part of the Battle of Algeciras Bay.
Captured by British at the Battle of Algeciras Bay.
A 32 gun fifth rate frigate captured by HMS Victory, commanded by Captain Samuel Sutton in the Atlantic. She was restored to the Royal Navy in her old name, the existing Ambuscade being renamed HMS Seine. First captured by the British during the Battle of Tory Island in 1797, recaptured by the Bayonnaise in 1798 to be recaptured by the British again in 1803.
A Serpente class corvette bearing 18 guns. Captured by HMS Endymion, off the Azores.
A Romaine class frigate bearing 20 guns. Captured by HMS Naiad, commanded by Captain James Wallis in the Bay of Biscay.
A 40-gun frigate under the command of Captain Jahleel Brenton, (re)captured by the French navy after it ran aground chasing other ships. Originally a French ship, captured by British in 1792.
A Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line, commanded by Commodore Quérangal. Captured by British squadron, commanded by Commodore Loring. Vessel was stranded in 1804, broken up 1805.
An 18-gun schooner, captured by the Royal Navy after a chase. Later renamed Crafty, and captured by the Spanish in 1807.
A 24-gun East Indiaman, captured by the French Navy in the Battle of Vizagapatam.
An 80-gun ship of the line, broken up in 1816.
A 32-gun Amazon-class fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy, commanded by Sir Robert Laurie. Captured by Ville de Milan, commanded by Captain Jean-Marie Renaud.
An East Indiaman converted to a 56-gun ship of the line. Captured by 74-gun French ship Magnanime, later ran aground and recaptured by British and set ablaze 12 April 1809 at the Battle of the Basque Roads.
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was fought on the 21st of October 1805 off the Spanish coast near Cape Trafalgar involving the allied fleets of Spain and France against the Royal Navy of Britain. Britain's answer to Napoleon's threat, it proved to be the turning point of the Napoleonic era and is regarded as the last great sea battle of the period. The battle involved dozens of sailing warships and vessels many of which fell to capture while many were also met with what is considered a worse fate in the storm that followed.
An Téméraire class 74-gun French ship of the line. Present at the Battle of Trafalgar, commanded by Capt Louis Alexis Baudoin †, fired the first shot of the battle. After its capture by British it was wrecked in the storm of 23 October that followed the battle and sunk, taking with her all hands on board.
A Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line. Commanded by Captain Lucas Redoutable is known for her fiercely fought duel with HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar, killing Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, incurring the highest losses of the battle. Captured by British, she foundered during the storm the next day and sunk, taking with her all hands.
An 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. It was the flagship of the French fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, commanded by Captain Jean-Jacques Magendie. Surrendered to Captain James Atcherly of the Marines from HMS Conqueror, later wrecked in storm of 23 October 1805.
A 74-gun French ship of the line, present at the Battle of Trafalgar, under Rear Admiral Charles Magon who was killed during the boarding attempt when engaged by HMS Tonnant. Escaped after capture making her way to Cadiz.
A 74-gun third-rate ship of the line, captured at the Battle of Trafalgar and scuttled by British.
A 74-gun French ship of the line. took part in the Battle of Trafalgar, captured during the battle. On the following day, her crew rose up turned against her captors and recaptured their ship, however, she was wrecked in the storm of 23 October 1805.
An 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. After engaging the British Revenge, Dreadnought and Thunderer she was finally captured. During the storm of 23 October she broke her anchor chains and was wrecked with only about 150 out of 1200 men aboard surviving.
The British HMS Berwick, a 74-gun ship of the line, was captured by the French in 1795. She was recaptured by the British at the Battle of Trafalgar. While in tow her captives cut her cables, she struck a shoal and sank with approximately 200 perishing in the storm.
A 74-gun ship of the line, originally the British HMS Swiftsure, commanded by Captain Hallowell, captured by the French fleet, commanded by Admiral Ganteaume, on 24 June 1800. Under the command of Captain l'Hôpitalier-Villemadrin she was recaptured at the Battle of Trafalgar and was one of the few captured ships to survive the storm.
An 80-gun ship of the line of the Spanish Navy. Present at the Battle of Trafalgar, noted for being the oldest vessel present. Rayo escaped from the battle but was intercepted by HMS Donegal fresh out of Gibraltar and then was wrecked 26 October 1805 in the storm that followed.
A 112-gun three-decker ship of the line of the Spanish Navy. Captured by British at Battle of Trafalgar. two days later, a squadron under the command of Commodore Cosmao-Kerjulien recaptured her and took her back to Cadiz.
An 80-gun Montañes-class ship of the line of the Spanish Navy. Captured at the Battle of Trafalgar, later ran aground and set fire by the British.
A 74-gun ship of the line. Present at the Battle of Algeciras in 1801 and the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
A first-rate ship of the line, launched in 1769, bearing 112 guns, increased to 130 guns in 1795–96. Commanded by Francisco Javier Uriarte and Rear Admiral Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, present at Battle of Trafalgar, the largest ship in the allied fleet. Captured by British, wrecked in storm following day.
A 74 gun ship of the line, commanded by Capt Don Teodoro de Argumosa, present at Battle of Trafalgar. After its capture it was burnt on 26 October 1805.
A 74 gun ship of the line, commanded by Commodore Dionisio Alcalá Galiano who lost his life from cannon fire. Captured by HMS Colossus, broken up in 1814.
A 74-gun ship of the line launched in 1765, commanded by Commodore Don Cosmé Damián Churruca y Elorza †, present at Battle of Trafalgar, with half its crew dead or wounded.
A 74-gun ship that saw service in French, British and American waters in the late 18th century. Present at the Battle of Trafalgar, commanded by Captain Don Jose Ramón de Vargas y Varáez; captured by the British HMS Defence and renamed HMS Ildefonso, it was one of the few captured vessels that survived the storm following the battle.
Napoleonic Wars (continued ii)
74-gun Le Téméraire class. Captured by British, renamed HMS Implacable; training ship 1805, scuttled 1949
74-gun ship, Le Téméraire class: captured by British, hulked 1811, sold 1819
A French Navy's Ship of the line, 74 guns, launched in 1800, survived the Battle of Trafalgar but was later captured by the British at the Battle of Cape Ortegal.
A French Ship of the line, 74 guns, she was used by the British at the Battle of Trafalgar after her capture at the Battle of Cape Ortegal.
A 74 gun ship of the line, present at the Battle of Cape Finisterre, and the Battle of Trafalgar. Captured by the British at the Battle of Cape Ortegal, later broken up 1819.
80-gun ship of Le Tonnant class, broken up 1816.
Viala was a 74-gun Téméraire-class ship of the line launched in 1795. She was captured by the Royal Navy in 1806 at the Battle of San Domingo.
A Téméraire class French ship of the line bearing 80 guns, commanded by Admiral Charles Linois. Captured by HMS London of 98 guns, commanded by Admiral John B. Warren, following with HMS Foudroyant, bearing 80 guns, commanded by Vice-Admiral John Chambers White . See also: Action of 13 March 1806
A 40-gun Virginie-class frigate. Captured by HMS Foudroyant bearing 80 guns, commanded by Admiral John B. Warren. See also: Action of 13 March 1806
A French brig, 16 guns, she was captured by the British off France.
A 34-gun privateer captured off the coast of Ceylon by HMS Rattlesnake and HMS Powerful under the command of Sir Edward Pellew. See also: Action of 9 July 1806
A frigate of 40 guns under the command of Commodore Sir Samuel Hood. Was present at Allemand's expedition of 1805, captured by British forces during the Action of 25 September 1806 by, HMS Centaur.
A 38-gun Armide class frigate of the French Navy. Captured along with Armide, Gloire and Infatigable by a four-ship squadron under Samuel Hood.
80-gun ship of Le Tonnant class, sold 1822.
74 gun, captured by British, foundered 1806.
– ex-French Le Jupiter, captured by British, sold 1814.
A 14-gun schooner, boarded and captured by three Spanish warship north of Tétouan. Formerly a French warship, captured in 1803.
A brig of the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy, which she served from 1791 to 1807 until the British capture, taking possession under terms of capitulation following the Second Battle of Copenhagen.
Originally a Danish 22-gun warship launched in 1801, captured by the British at the Second Battle of Copenhagen, renamed HMS Little Belt, commanded by Arthur Bingham. Captured second time by USS President, commanded by John Rodgers.
A whaler, she was first captured by a Spanish privateer, then by a British warship, then by another Spanish privateer. Brought to Algiers, then released.
a 40-gun Consolante-class frigate that served as a commerce raider in the Indian Ocean, commanded by Lieutenant de vaisseau Charles Moreau †. Captured by HMS St Fiorenzo of 38 guns, commanded by Captain George Nicholas Hardinge off the coast of India. She was renamed HMS Piedmontaise served in the British Royal Navy, until broken up in 1813.
16-gun French Palinure-class brig, captured by HMS Bachante off Cape San Antonio, Cuba.
A 14-gun Archer class brig built in 1804. Captured by Danish gunboats in the Great Belt. Operated under the same name by the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy until sold off in 1815.
A 16-gun Confounder-class brig launched in 1805. Captured by Danish gunboats off Saltholm. Operated under the same name by the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy until sold off in 1814.
80-gun French Bucentaure-class ship of the line, captured by the Spaniards in Cadiz harbour.
74-gun French Téméraire class ship of the line, captured by the Spaniards in Cadiz harbour.
74-gun French ship of the line, captured by the Spaniards in Cadiz harbour.
74-gun French Téméraire class ship of the line, captured by the Spaniards in Cadiz harbour.
74-gun French ship of the line, captured by the Spaniards in Cadiz harbour.
44-gun French frigate, captured by the Spaniards in Cadiz harbour.
A 16-gun Seagull-class brig built in 1805. Captured by the sloop Lougen off Christiansand. Operated under the same name by the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy until transferred to the fledgling Royal Norwegian Navy in 1814. Decommissioned in 1817.
A 14-gun Archer class brig launched in 1804. Captured by Danish gunboats in the Great Belt. Operated under the same name by the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy until sold off in 1815.
An 18-gun Cruizer class brig-sloop launched in 1807, commanded by Charles Mars Gregory. Captured by French brig Palinure, commanded by Captain de frègate Jance. Burnt in 1809 to avoid recapture.
A French 16-carronade brig, launched in 1808, commanded by Lieutenant de Vaisseau Deslandes, captured by HMS Melampus. Taken into British service as HMS Colibri, wrecked on 23 August 1813 in Port Royal Sound.
A 40-gun frigate commanded by capitaine de frégate Rousseau, was the lead ship of the Junon class. While commanded by John Shortland she was recaptured on 13 December 1809 by Clorinde and Renommée and renamed HMS Junon.
French 36-gun class frigate, 900 tons, Captured by HMS Latona, a 38-gun frigate commanded by Captain Hugh Pigot.
An 18-gun brig built in 1807 for the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy under the name Allart, captured by the British following the Second Battle of Copenhagen. Recaptured by Danish gunboats off Fredriksvern. Operated under the same name by the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy until transferred to the fledgling Royal Norwegian Navy in 1815. Decommissioned in 1817.
A 13-gun Archer class brig launched in 1801. Captured by Danish gunboats off Skagen. Operated under the same name by the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy until sold off in 1811.
A Téméraire-class 74-gun ship of the line., captured by British, renamed HMS Abercrombie, sold 1817.
The Gloire-class frigate was captured by Clorinde, Loire, Renommée and Seine (all French Navy) off Guadeloupe with the loss of fifteen of her crew. She was set afire and scuttled the next day.
See also:
1810–1819
Napoleonic Wars (continued)
A gunboat launched in 1809. Captured by Danish gunboats off Anholt.
A Sybille-class 36-gun, copper-hulled, frigate of the French Navy. Captured by the British at Isle of France at the Battle of Grand Port.
A schooner launched in 1806. Captured by Danish gunboats off Skagen. Operated by the Dano-Norwegian Navy under the same name until recaptured by the British in 1811.
A 40-gun Hortense-class frigate of the French Navy. Built her in 1807 for the Venetian Navy Captured by British at the Battle of Lissa.
A 13-gun Archer class brig launched in 1804. Captured by Danish gunboats off Jutland. Operated under the same name by the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy until sold off in 1813.
A 13-gun Archer class brig launched in 1804. Captured by Danish brigs Lolland, Alsen and Samsø off Arendal. Operated under the same name by the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy until sold off in 1813.
74-gun Le Pluton class, broken up 1819.
A 13-gun Archer-class brig launched in 1804. Captured by Danish gunboats. Operated under the same name by the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy until sold off in 1813.
74 gun, captured by British, renamed Genoa, broken up 1838.
A post ship captured by John Rodgers in command of USS President. The engagement came to be known as the Little Belt Affair, one of many incidents that led to the War of 1812.
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was largely a naval war fought between the United States with its young American navy and Great Britain who had the largest and most formidable navy in the world at the time. The causes of the war were regarded differently between the two countries. The United States was appalled at Britain for seizing U.S. ships and capturing and impressing American citizens into its navy, while Britain maintained that it had the right to search neutral vessels for property or persons of its foes. The ships of the two countries were involved in many engagements along the Atlantic coast, the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies with numerous vessels being destroyed or captured on both sides.
A civilian brig. Taken as a prize by the British
A schooner commanded by Robert Percy, captured by USS Oneida, commanded by Commodore M.T. Woolsey, while enforcing the Embargo Law. Captured a second time in 1815 by USS Constitution, commanded by Charles Stewart.
A Royal Navy Ballahoo-class schooner of 75 tons and 4 guns, launched in 1805, Lieutenant Lewis Maxey. Present at the Battle of Copenhagen, Captured at Hampton Roads by American privateer Dash commanded by Captain Garroway.
Built in 1799 as a merchant vessel it was purchased by the U.S. Navy in 1803 and converted into a 42-gun brig. Commanded by Lieutenant W. Crane, it was captured off the coast of New Jersey by a blockading British fleet: Shannon, Belvidera, Africa, Eolus and Guerriere - the last vessel of these itself defeated by USS Constitution only a month later. Taken into possession for use in the Royal Navy and renamed HMS Emulous.
A 44-gun fifth rate launched in 1779, captured by American privateer Paul Jones.
Caledonia was a brig, formerly HMS Caledonia, captured by the U.S. Navy, during the War of 1812 and taken into American service. Commanded by Lieutenant D. Turner the Brig played an important role with the American squadron on Lake Erie; sold at the end of the war.
An 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop, launched on 9 February 1806, commanded by Thomas Whinyates. Captured by USS Wasp, commanded by Jacob Jones.
Adams was in drydock at Detroit for repairs when war broke out, captured by the British and renamed HMS Detroit.
Commanded by Jacob Jones. Wasp was a sailing sloop of war captured by the British in the War of 1812. She was constructed in 1806 at the Washington Navy Yard. Captured twice.
A British packet with eighty one boxes of gold and silver aboard, captured by USS President commanded by Commodore John Rodgers with Matthew C. Perry aboard
A 38-gun fifth rate Lively-class frigate in the Royal Navy, captured by the USS United States commanded by Stephen Decatur during the War of 1812.
A Pallas class frigate, commanded by Henry Lambert †, taken as a prize off coast of Brazil after its engagement with USS Constitution, commanded by William Bainbridge.
A 10-gun brig launched on Lake Erie in 1807, captured American squadron under the command of Commodore Isaac Chauncey's and taken back to Sackett's Harbor. Destroyed by the British a few weeks later.
A frigate, Commanded by Captain James Lawrence † that was pounded by 362 shots from HMS Shannon before its surrender.
See: Capture of USS Chesapeake
Part of Thomas Macdonough's fleet overtaken by British while on blockade patrol at the Battle of Lake Champlain. Renamed HMS Finch
An American Letter of marque schooner bearing only two guns, captured by HMS Briton off the coast of Bordeaux.
A 37-gun fifth-rate frigate captured on Lake Erie by USS Eagle (1812), commanded by Thomas Macdonough at the Battle of Plattsburgh.
A brig commanded by William Henry Allen surrendered to British after engagement with HMS Pelican in St George's Channel.
See: Capture of USS Argus
A 12-gun Bold-class gun-briglaunched in July 1812, commanded by Samuel Blyth †, captured by USS Enterprise, commanded by Lieutenant William Burrows. See also: Capture of HMS Boxer
A 16-gun schooner built as the American privateer Syren and commissioned as Letter of marque, captured by Royal Navy 20 April 1813, renamed Pictou. Commanded by Lieutenant Edward Stephens Pictou was recaptured at Barbados during the War of 1812 by the American frigate USS Constitution commanded by Charles Stewart.
A sailing frigate commanded by David Porter that served in the Quasi-War, the First Barbary War and the War of 1812. Captured off Valparaíso by HMS Phoebe and HMS Cherub under the command of Admiral James Hillyar and was renamed HMS Essex.
An 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop commanded by Richard Walter Wales, captured off Cape Canaveral, Florida by USS Peacock with 22 guns commanded by Lewis Warrington
See also: Capture of HMS Epervier
Forced to surrender to superior British force 15 miles off Matanzas, Cuba.
A schooner of four guns, commanded by Norfolk King, was the name ship of the Royal Navy's Ballahoo-class schooners. Captured by 5-gun American privateer Perry off the coast of South Carolina.
An 18-gun Cruiser class brig-sloop, launched in 1804. She was under the command of Commander Nicholas Lechmere Pateshall( †) when USS Wasp, under the command of Johnston Blakely, captured ehr approximately 500 miles west of Ushant.
See also: Sinking of HMS Reindeer
A brig, served in First Barbary War and War of 1812. Captured in 1814 by Royal Navy. Was present with USS Intrepid during recapture and burning of USS Philadelphia.
A 4-gun Cuckoo-class schooner, commanded by Lieutenant Robert Daniel Lancaster. Captured near Gibraltar by an American privateer Syren, a schooner sporting one heavy long gun, under Captain J.D. Daniels.
A brig under the command of Lt. James Renshaw, was captured by the 50 gun, British frigate HMS Leander.
Cruizer-class brig-sloop built by Symons at Falmouth and launched on 31 January 1805, commanded by James Arbuthnot at time of capture; Captured by USS Wasp, commanded by Commodore Johnston Blakeley.
A 12-gun sloop and the second US Navy ship to carry the name. Captured by British and renamed Icicle.
A sloop lost to the British at the Battle of Lake Borgne.
A Sloop of war lost to the British at the Battle of Lake Borgne.
A frigate that was named by George Washington, commanded by Stephen Decatur, fell into British hands when encountered by HMS Endymion.
See: Capture of USS President
A 22-gun Banterer-class sixth-rate post ship built in 1806, commanded by Captain Gordon Thomas Falcon; Captured along with HMS Levant approximately 100 miles east of Madeira by USS Constitution, commanded by Charles Stewart
A 20-gun Cyrus-class sixth rate ship, commanded by Hon. George Douglas; captured along with HMS Cyane, by USS Constitution, commanded by Charles Stewart.
See also:
Second Barbary War
An Algerian frigate and flagship in the Algerian fleet during the Second Barbary War, commanded by Rais Hammida †. Captured by USS Guerriere, commanded by Stephen Decatur.
An Algerian brig captured by American fleet under the command of Stephen Decatur.
An armed Mexican schooner attempting to smuggle slaves into the United States.
Venezuelan privateer, captured with 280 slaves by United States ship.
Chilean war of independence
The Navy of Chile website lists 26 Spanish prizes during the War of Independence. The most famous are probably:
first naval vessel of the Chilean Navy
captured by Manuel Blanco Encalada off Santa María Island, Chile
captured by Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald in El Callao
captured by Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald in El Callao
captured by Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald in El Callao. (later renamed Monteagudo)
Ship handed over to the Chilean authorities
For vessels captured by Chilean Letter of marque ships, see list of prizes
1820–1829
Above four ships captured together by USS Alligator. All except the La Jeune Eugene escaped while being escorted to Boston. France protests.
A Spanish brig outfitted as a slaver, captured at Monrovia by El Vincendor, commanded by Captain Cottrell.
West Africa Squadron
a British East India packet schooner captured by pirates but retaken by her crew.
War of the Confederation
Crew handed the ship over to the Chilean government
Texas Revolution
A Mexican Navy warship captured by the merchant ships San Felipe and Laura after a bloody exchange of cannon fire off the coast of Texas known as the San Felipe Incident. On board the San Felipe was Stephen F. Austin.
A Mexican merchantman captured by Captain W. Brown in the Liberty, later ran aground on a sandbar and was wrecked.
Former cutter USRC Ingham, captured by the Mexican navy in the Battle of the Brazos River. In service under Mexican flag as La Independencia.
1839
A two-masted schooner built in Spain and owned by a Spaniard living in Cuba. Was used to transport Africans into slavery, who took control of the ship in 1839. Ship was captured off the coast of Long Island by the USS Washington.
Above four slaver ships seized together off the coast of Africa using American and Spanish flags to suit the occasion along with fraudulent papers. Captured by British cruiser and brought to United States.
Fitted as a slaver, and captured by a British cruiser on the coast of Africa.
Captured on the African coast by a British cruiser, and brought by her to New York.
With American papers, seized by British cruisers as Spanish property. Before this she had been boarded fifteen times.
Seized by a British cruiser, and condemned at Sierra Leone.
1840–1849
Captured with fraudulent papers.
Captured by British cruisers and sent to Boston for kidnapping.
Seized by the British.
Shakespeare, of Baltimore, with 430 slaves, captured by British cruisers.
Cyrus, of New Orleans, suspected slaver, captured by the British cruiser Alert.
Spitfire, of New Orleans, captured on the coast of Africa, under American flag and the captain indicted in Boston.
Slaver, with no papers; searched, and captured with 420 slaves, by a British cruiser.
Mexican–American War
At the onset of the war on 12 May 1846, Commodore John D. Sloat was in command of the Pacific fleet. The Pacific war against Mexico lasted only eight months with few casualties. The Pacific fleet consisted mainly of ten ships: two ships of the line, two frigates, two sloops-of-war, and four sloops. As the Mexican navy was very small few vessels were ever captured.
Mexican merchant brig captured by sloop of war USS Warren under the command Lieutenant William Radford.
A sloop captured by the chartered Libertad with its crew of eleven in the Gulf of California, about twenty-five miles north of Mulegé.
First Schleswig War
During the First Schleswig War (1848 – 1850) the Royal Danish Navy first supported the Danish Army's advance south against the rebels in Schleswig-Holstein, and later blockaded the German ports.
A civilian steamship, captured by the Danish naval steamer Hekla and the brig St. Thomas at Aabenraa. Used as a transport by the Royal Danish Navy.
A frigate, captured by Prussian forces during the Battle of Eckernförde.
A gunboat, surrendered to the Royal Danish Navy after the end of the First Schleswig War. Commissioned into Danish service as Støren
1850–1859
Martha, of New York, captured by USS Perry when about to embark from southern coast of Africa with 1800 slaves. The captain was admitted to bail, and escaped.
A Brazilian brig outfitted as a slaver with a Brazilian crew, carrying false papers under the American flag, captured near Kabinda off the Congo River by British steam-sloop HMS Rattler, commanded by Arthur Cumming.
Lucy Ann, of Boston, captured with 547 slaves by the British.
Slaver, trading to Brazil, boarded, searched and seized by the commander of H. M. steam-sloop HMS Firefly.
Glamorgan, of New York, captured when about to depart with approximately 700 slaves.
Grey Eagle, of Philadelphia, captured off Cuba by British.
Ship from New Orleans, seized after prolonged surveillance by HMS Firefly.
Fitted out at New Orleans, captured by HMS Antelope with 70 slaves aboard.
Fitted out at New York, captured by HMS Alecto without papers or colors.
A schooner from Newport, Rhode Island, captured by HMS Antelope with 191 slaves aboard. Crew members from Spain and USA.
Slaver vessel out of Boston, suspected of several smuggling attempts under American colors. Captured by HMS Alecto.
The Echo was commanded by Captain Edward Townsend and financed by foreign nationals from Brazil and was captured by USS Dolphin off the northern coast of Cuba near the Santaren Channel with 306 slaves.
1860–1869
Erie, transporting 897 Africans from African coast, captured by a United States ship.
Originally the tea clipper and slave ship Nightingale, launched in 1851, captured in Africa in 1861 by Saratoga, taken as a prize and purchased by the United States Navy.
American Civil War
During the American Civil War the Union naval blockade at first proved to be ineffective at keeping ships from entering or leaving southern ports but towards the end of the war it played a significant role in its victory over the Confederate states. By the end of the war the Union Navy had captured many Confederate ships, moreover had also captured more than 1,100 blockade runners while destroying or running aground another 355 vessels, the majority of them being British vessels, as the British had extensive interests throughout the plantations in the south, foremost of which was cotton. Using their specially designed blockade runners the British also provided arms and other needed supplies to the Confederate Army. The Confederacy came into the war with no Navy to speak of but in little time were producing the now famous ironclad vessels in response to the Union blockade, however these were being destroyed or captured as fast as they were being produced and ultimately did little to alleviate the strangle hold the Union blockade had on the Confederacy.
A brig-rigged, side-paddle-wheel passenger steamer originally built as a United States Mail Service ship. Captured 13 April 1861 at Charleston harbor after the fall of Fort Sumter and renamed CSS Nashville.
A steam-driven screw frigate, was burned to the waterline and sunk 20 April 1861 in preparation for the surrender of the Gosport Shipyard the next day. Floated and rebuilt as casemate ironclad CSS Virginia, she participated in the Battle of Hampton Roads but was scuttled 11 May 1862 to avoid recapture.
A civilian schooner, captured by the Confederate privateer Jefferson Davis, later recaptured by USS Albatross off Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, on 20 July 1861.
A collier while cruising in Mississippi Sound 28 November 1861, the Union screw steamer USS R. R. Cuyler seized A. J. View off Pascagoula, Mississippi, when the schooner attempted to slip out to sea.
A civilian side-wheel steamer, captured by Confederate forces at New Orleans. Pressed into Confederate naval service, she was recaptured by USS Montgomery off Mobile, Alabama, on 28 October 1862.
A 508-ton side-wheel steamer and gunboat, built in 1851 at New York City as the civilian steamer Calhoun. Served as a Confederate privateer and used as a blockade runner in May 1861.
A steamer and ironclad, at Cerro Gordo, Tennessee, captured by three Union gunboats. Renamed USS Eastport, later destroyed on Red River 15 April 1864 to prevent recapture.
a gunboat in the Confederate States Navy and the United States Navy during, later lost during a raid while under command of Lieutenant William B. Cushing.
After capture was taken into the United States Navy and assigned to the Potomac Flotilla.
A Confederate sidewheel steamer, commanded by J.W. Godfrey, captured by USS Pawnee at Cumberland Sound, Florida.
A large iron-hulled screw steamer of 1,238 tons built in 1861 at Stockton-on-Tees, England as a blockade runner for transporting military supplies to the Confederacy, commanded by Charles W. Westendorff. Captured by USS Mercedita, commanded by Henry S. Stellwagen.
A side-wheel steamer acquired by the Confederate Government for service as a troop transport on the waters of the Mississippi River. Captured by Union forces at Battle of Memphis and renamed USS Abraham.
Originally the 1043-ton side-wheel river steamer, built 1851 at NY, owned by Southern Steamship Co. . Pressed into service by the Confederacy at New Orleans 15 January 1862. She ran aground during the Battle of Memphis, captured, renamed USS General Bragg.
A side wheel steamer, Capt. W. W. Lamb. Built as Junius Beebe, in 1853 at Algiers, Louisiana. Captured during the Battle of Memphis by Union forces, renamed USS Sumter.
Blockade runner captured by USS Chippewa
A 7-gun screw steamer, built by William Denny and Brothers, in Scotland in 1861, serving as a blockade runner before being captured by USS Magnolia and taken into the Union Navy.
A sidewheel steamer, taken over by the Confederate forces for use on the Mississippi River. Carrying Confederate officers, she was surrendered to Union forces and taken into the Union Army as transport, then transferred to the Navy as USS De Soto and later renamed USS General Lyon.
Confederate schooner captured by USS Coeur de Lion while enforcing the blockade off Machodoc Creek, Virginia.
Confederate schooner captured by USS Coeur de Lion while enforcing the blockade off Machodoc Creek, Virginia.
A British blockade-running steamer, captured leaving St. Thomas by the USS Vanderbilt, commanded by Commodore Charles Wilkes.
A former blockade runner she was captured by USS Canandaigua leaving Charleston, South Carolina.
A 1006-ton Casemate ironclad Built in Glasgow, Scotland, originally named Fingal. She ran the blockade into Savannah, Georgia, in November 1861 with a large cargo of weapons and military supplies. Later ran aground and captured by John Rodgers in command of USS Weehawken in Wassaw Sound.
originally a fishing schooner captured by the Confederate cruiser CSS Tacony and converted into a Confederate cruiser for commerce raiding.
A iron-hulled, side-wheel steamer built in 1862 by British interests to run through the Union Navy's blockade. Captured by USS Santiago de Cuba.
A sidewheel steamer commanded by William P. Rogers used as a blockade runner. Captured by USS Iroquois commanded by J. S. Palmer off the coast of Cape Fear River, North Carolina.
A Baltimore, Maryland-built vessel which was operating out of Nassau, Bahamas, under a British colonial register, captured by USS Adirondack while trying to evade Union blockade.
A schooner-rigged, iron-hulled, paddle-steamer used as a blockade runner commanded by Lieutenant Richard H. Gayle. Captured off the coast of North Carolina by USS James Adger and USS Iron Age.
A sloop and blockade runner, run aground and captured by USS Fernandina at St. Cathrine's Sound.
Seized by the Confederates at Galveston, Texas, at the war's outbreak and renamed Mary Sorly. Recaptured by USS Sciota trying to run the blockade.
An Erie Canal steamer — was a U.S. Army transport, later sunk by the Confederate batteries on 18 April 1864, then raised and taken into the Confederate States Navy under the command of Lieutenant Albert Gallatin Hudgins, CSN.
An iron-hulled sidewheel steamer completed in 1864 at Greenock, Scotland, used as a blockade runner, captured by the USS Kansas.
A wooden-hulled, sidewheel gunboat used in Gulf blockading squadron, captured by CSN gunboat fleet in Ossabaw Sound, 1st Lt. Thomas P. Pelot in command.
Captured at Battle of Mobile Bay.
An ironclad ram, commissioned 16 February 1864, Lieutenant James D. Johnston in command. Later became the flagship of Admiral Franklin Buchanan who surrendered at the Battle of Mobile Bay.
A side-wheel steamer, built at Greenock, Scotland, in 1862, purchased by the CSA (North Carolina) under the name Lord Clyde in 1863, renamed Advance for running Union blockade. Vessel made 20 blockade runs before its capture by USS Santiago de Cuba off Wilmington, North Carolina. Renamed USS Frolic in 1865.
A steam-powered ironclad ram of the Confederate Navy (and later the second Albemarle of the United States Navy), commanded by Captain James W. Cooke, sunk by spar torpedo, captured, raised, and sold.
Confederate blockade runner CSS Lady Stirling, built by James Ash at Cubitt Town, London in 1864. She was badly damaged and captured by the United States Navy on 28 October 1864 off Wilmington, North Carolina.
A schooner and cargo ship out of Boston, commanded by Samuel J. Gilman, used in the American Civil War, captured by CSS Shenandoah, commanded by Captain James Iredell Waddell and burned in 1864.
A cargo bark from Boston, captured by CSS Shenandoah, commanded by Captain James Iredell Waddell, sunk southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. See also: Vessels captured by CSS Shenandoah
A cruiser in the Confederate States Navy, commanded by John Newland Maffitt (a privateer), captured by USS Wachusett, commanded by Rear Admiral Napoleon Collins, later sunk in collision with USAT Alliance, a troop ferry, November 28, 1864.
The Syren was a sidewheel steamer built at Greenwich, Kent, England in 1863 and designed for outrunning and evading the vessels on Union blockade patrol. Owned by the Charleston Importing and Exporting Company, the Syren made her first run on 5 November 1863, running supplies from Nassau to Wilmington. The Syren completed a record 33 runs through the blockade, the most of any blockade runner. Abandoned and set fire the Union Army captured her in Charleston harbor where she had successfully run in through the blockade the night before.
See also: Wilmington, North Carolina in the American Civil War
An ironclad ram. Found by Union forces near Fort Moultrie when they took possession of Charleston in 1865.
A twin propeller casement ironclad ram, captured at Richmond navy yard by union forces after city was evacuated.
See also:
Second Schleswig War
During the Second Schleswig War in 1864 the Royal Danish Navy blockaded the German ports. While the Danes suffered military defeat on land during the conflict, their navy succeeded in maintaining the blockade throughout the war.
A civilian ship, captured by the Danish frigate Jylland off Helsingør.
A civilian barque, captured by the Danish corvette Dagmar off Hamburg.
Chincha Islands War
The Chincha Islands War (1864 – 1866) was a mostly naval conflict between Spain and her former South American colonies Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia.
The naval schooner was captured in the Battle of Papudo by the Chilean corvette Esmeralda. Pressed into Chilean service, she was sunk by a naval mine during the War of the Pacific in 1880.
The sidewheel steamer was captured by Spanish frigates. She was burned and destroyed by the Spanish on 10 May 1866.
The naval steamer was captured by the Spanish frigate Gerona in the Action of 22 August 1866 off Madeira. She was pressed into Spanish naval service and remained so until sunk by Nationalist aircraft at Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War in 1938.
Ten Years' War
The Ten Years' War was fought between Cuban revolutionaries and Spain. Breaking out in 1868, the war was won by Spain by 1878.
The blockade runner, carrying 103 Cuban soldiers, was captured by the Spanish corvette Tornado. After initially executing 53 crew members as pirates, the Spanish authorities were pressured by the US and British governments to release the ship and the 91 surviving crew in December 1873.
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific (1879 – 1883) was fought between Peru and Bolivia on one side, with Chile on the other. Chile emerged victorious.
The troopship was captured by the Peruvian ironclad Huáscar and the Peruvian corvette Unión off Antofagasta. The ship was taken into service with the Peruvian Navy.
The ironclad was captured by Chilean naval forces in the Battle of Angamos. The ship was taken into service with the Chilean Navy under the same name and is still afloat as a museum and historical memorial ship at the port of Talcahuano, Chile
captured by Chilean Blanco Encalada.
captured by Chilean transporter Amazonas between Panama and El Callao.
1880–1889
(Ship names / Information forthcoming)
First Sino-Japanese War
The 1894–95 First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan over dominance of Korea. The war ended in Japanese victory and great Chinese loss of territory and prestige.
The gunboat was captured by the Japanese cruiser Akitsushima during the Battle of Pungdo. She served in the Japanese Navy and government service under the name Sōkō until 1924. Sold to civilian interests, she sailed as a transport until scrapped in 1964.
The cruiser was captured by Japanese forces after the 17 February 1895 Battle of Weihaiwei. She served in the Japanese Navy under the name Saien until mined and sunk off Port Arthur on 30 November 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War.
The armored cruiser was captured by Japanese forces after the 17 February 1895 Battle of Weihaiwei. She served in the Japanese Navy first under the name Ping Yuen Go and later as Heien until mined and sunk west of Port Arthur on 18 September 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War.
The turret ship was captured by Japanese forces after the 17 February 1895 Battle of Weihaiwei. She served in the Japanese Navy under the name Chin'en until scrapped in 1914.
Spanish–American War
The Spanish–American War lasted only ten weeks and was fought in both the Caribbean and the Pacific theaters. American naval power proved decisive, allowing U.S. expeditionary forces to disembark in Spanish controlled Cuba which was already under constant pressure from frequent insurgent attacks. It is the only American war that was prompted by the fate of a single ship, the USS Maine, then berthed in a Cuban harbor, which exploded while its crew lay asleep.
The bark Saranac—under Captain Bartaby—was captured in the Philippines by the Spanish gunboat Elcano carrying 1,640 short tons (1,490 t) of coal from Newcastle, New South Wales, to Iloilo, for Admiral Dewey's fleet.
The gunboad was captured by US naval forces during the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898. She was officially turned over to the US Navy on 9 November 1898.
The scuttled cruiser was captured by US naval forces at Santiago de Cuba. The ship was raised in 1899 and taken into service with the US Navy.
References
List of ships captured in the 19th century Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA