French brig Phaeton (1804)

The French brig Phaeton was a Palinure-class brig launched in 1804. The British captured her in 1806 and renamed her HMS Mignonne. In 1807 they renamed her HMS Musette. She was sold in 1814.

"HMS Mignonne (1806)" redirects here. For other ships with the name, see HMS Mignonne.
"HMS Musette (1807)" redirects here. For other ships with the name, see HMS Musette.

Phaeton
History
France
Name: Phaeton
Ordered: 18 April 1803 (contract)
Builder: Danet, Antwerp
Laid down: July 1803
Launched: 28 June 1804
Captured: 26 March 1806
UK
Name: Mignonne
Acquired: 26 March 1806 by capture
Renamed: HMS Musette 7 October 1807
Fate: sold 1814
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: Palinure-class
Type: Brig
Displacement: 290 tons[2]
Tons burthen: 328 ​79⁄94 (bm)
Length:
  • 97 ft 0 in (29.6 m) (overall)
  • 77 ft 0 in (23.5 m) (keel)
Beam: 28 ft 4 in (8.6 m)
Depth of hold: 7 ft 0 in (2.1 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Brig
Complement:
  • French service:120
  • British service:121
Armament:
  • French service: 16 × 6-pounder guns[2]
  • Later: 14 x 24-pounder carronades + 2 x 6 or 8-pounder guns[2]
  • British service: 14 × 32-pounder carronades + 2 × 6-pounder guns

French career

Phaéton was stationed at Hellevoetsluis under the command of lieutenant de vaisseau Saulces de Freycinet. Between 7 September and 16 October 1805, she conducted a patrol in the North Sea. Shortly thereafter the French Navy dispatched her to the Antilles on a mission.[3]

On 25 March 1806, off Puerto Rico, Phaéton and her sister-ship Voltigeur encountered HMS Reindeer. Both sides exchanged fire for some four hours.[4] During that engagement the French brigs suffered damage and possibly casualties; Reindeer too had some damage but no casualties.[5]

Capture

The next day, on 26 March, Pique, under the command of Captain Charles B.H. Ross, was sailing from Santo Domingo to Curacoa when she encountered two French navy brigs. At 1pm, Pique began firing at long range, and by 2pm had caught up with them. After an intensive cannonade that lasted some 20 minutes, Pique was able to send a boarding aboard one of the two French vessels. A terrible struggle ensued before the French vessel struck. The French crew had concealed themselves under sails and in the wreckage, emerging once the boarding party arrived and subjecting it to a devastating fusillade that killed or wounded most of the boarding party. Ross then sent over more men, before returning to the chase of the second brig.[6] After the exchange of several more broadsides, the second French vessel struck.[4]

The two vessels turned out to be Phaéton and Voltigeur, having crews of 120 men and 115 men. Voltigeur was under the command of lieutenant de vaisseau M. St. Craig. Pique had one man wounded during the chase, and nine men killed and 13 wounded during the boarding of Phaéton. Ross estimated that the French vessels had lost half their crews dead and wounded.[4] Later reports suggested that although French casualties on Phaeton had been heavy, those on Voltigeur were slight.

The British took Phaéton into service as Mignonne, and Voltigeur as Pelican.[1][Note 1]

British service

The British commissioned Mignonne under Commander Robert Nicholson. In August Commander George Gustavus Lennox replaced Nicholas.[7]

The Admiralty then renamed her HMS Musette and in October 1807 Commander Peter Douglas took command.[1]

In 1808 Commander Henry Boys replaced Douglas. In 1809 Commander J. Lloyd assumed command.[8] In December Commander Thomas P.J. Parry replaced Lloyd. He sailed her to Britain and she arrived at Portsmouth on 30 June 1810. There she was placed in ordinary.[1]

Fate

The Admiralty offered Musette for sale at Portsmouth on 9 June 1814.[9] She was finally sold on 1 September 1814 for £400.[1]

Notes, citations, and references

Notes

  1. Some subsequent reports state that Phaeton became Mignonne, which is correct, and that Voltigeur became Musette, which is incorrect.[6]

Citations

  1. Winfield (2008), p. 317.
  2. Winfield & Roberts (2015), p. 216.
  3. Fonds Marine, p.322, & 356.
  4. "No. 15927". The London Gazette. 10 June 1806. p. 731.
  5. James (1837), Vol. 3, p.225.
  6. James (1837), Vol. 4, pp. 226-7.
  7. "NMM, vessel ID 371440" (PDF). Warship Histories, vol ii. National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  8. "NMM, vessel ID 371799" (PDF). Warship Histories, vol ii. National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  9. "No. 16901". The London Gazette. 24 May 1814. p. 1085.

References

  • Archives de France. Fonds marine campagnes : opérations, divisions et stations navales, missions diverses : inventaire de la sous-série Marine BB⁴. Centre historique des Archives nationales. ISBN 978-2860002653.
  • James, William (1837). The Naval History of Great Britain, from the Declaration of War by France in 1793, to the Accession of George IV. R. Bentley.
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-246-1.
  • Winfield, Rif; Roberts, Stephen S. (2015). French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786–1861: Design Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-204-2.

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