HMS Acasta (1797)
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| Career (England) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Acasta |
| Builder: | Wells, Rotherhithe |
| Launched: | 14 March 1797 |
| Fate: | Broken up on 1 January 1821 |
| General characteristics 40-gun fifth rate frigate | |
| Tons burthen: | 1,142 long tons (1,160.3 t) |
| Length: | 154 ft (46.9 m) |
| Beam: | 40 ft 9.5 in (12.4 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 14 ft 3 in (4.3 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Complement: | 320 |
| Armament: |
40 guns:
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HMS Acasta was a 40-gun fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy that saw service in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, as well as the War of 1812.
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[edit] Design
She was launched in 1797 by Wells, of Rotherhithe as one of the largest frigates built in England, mounting forty guns, thirty 18 pounders on one main gun deck, with another ten 9 pounder long guns on the quarterdeck and forecastle. The 9 pounders were later replaced by eight 32 pounder carronades. Designed by Sir William Rule, it was meant to provide a ship that could take the place of the 44-gun ships that carried their armament on two decks.
[edit] Career
[edit] In the Caribbean
Acasta's first captain was Richard Lane, who took command in February 1797 and oversaw her launch and commissioning. He sailed her to Jamaica, and in October 1798 she joined with HMS Trent and the two cruised off Porto Cavello. Lane then died suddenly aboard ship off Jamaica in the spring of 1799. He was replaced by Captain Edward Fellowes, who continued to cruise in the Caribbean. He was a successful commander, making a number of captures. He captured the 8-gun Spanish ship Juno, carrying a cargo of cocoa and indigo; followed by an armed polacca carrying brandy and wine, and a French schooner carrying a cargo of coffee. He also took two French rowboats, two Spanish doggers and a 16-gun xebec, along with a number of unarmed merchantmen with various cargoes. She also took part in the destruction of the 10-gun French privateer Victoire, with a crew of 60 men, which was destroyed under the batteries of Aguader. After these successes, Fellowes took Acasta back to England as part of the escort of a trade convoy, arriving in September 1801. Captain Fellowes remained in command until spring 1802.
In 1802 James Athol Wood took command of Acasta. Wood had just returned from Madagascar where his previous ship, HMS Garland had been wrecked. Acasta spent some time the Mediterranean, arriving back in Portsmouth on 8 July 1802, before sailing again for the Mediterranean on 8 November with dispatches relative to the Treaty of Amiens. She returned to England again and was recommissioned under Wood. She sailed to Guernsey on 7 March 1803, being based there until the renewal of hostilities with the French. Acasta then joined Admiral William Cornwallis in patrolling off Ushant, watching the French fleet in harbour at Brest.
[edit] Against the French
On 2 October 1803 Wood captured the French privateer Avanture. The Avanture was out of Bordeaux, carrying 20 guns and 144 men. The Acasta pursued her for two days in the mid-Atlantic, finally bringing her to action and capturing her. Wood also recaptured Avanture's two prizes that she had taken from the Jamaican convoy, the Royal Edward and the St. Mary's Planter. At the time of being intercepted the Avanture had been about to take possession of the Jane, before going after a fourth ship of the convoy. Wood also took the opportunity to cruise along the north coast of Spain, and examined and reported in the many ports and inlets there. He advised that in the event of a war with Spain, the peninsular of Santona, which lay midway between Bilbao and Santander, should be occupied to provide a base for the Navy and form a Gibraltar of the north. Acasta then spent the later part of 1804 escorting a valuable fleet to the West Indies.
Upon arriving at Jamaica, Sir John Duckworth ordered that Wood remove to HMS Hercule, which was then at sea. Acasta would then receive a new captain and return to England with Duckworth. This was a highly unusual practice, but Sir John remained adamant. Wood had the indignity of returning home as a passenger in his own ship. The Board of Admiralty immediately issued a new regulation that forbade Admirals from using their authority in such a way. Wood was restored to his command, but could not take up the appointment to the Hercule. Acasta next saw action under Duckworth in the Battle of San Domingo on 6 February 1806. Acasta, and the smaller ships HMS Magicienne, HMS Kingfisher and HMS Epervier formed up windward of the line-of-battle ships. Two of the enemy ships were driven ashore and burnt whilst another three were captured. HMS Donegal forced the surrender of the French ship Brave and directed Acasta to take possession of her, whilst the Donegal moved on to engage the other French ships. Acasta then took the prize to Jamaica.
[edit] Commanding the assaults
In 1807 Wood was replaced by Captain Philip Beaver, whilst Acasta was serving in the Channel. She escorted a convoy back to Britain from the Leeward Islands in December, and performed the same duty again in 1808. She then joined a fleet commanded by Sir Alexander Cochrane in 1809, and Beaver was placed in command of landing the troops on shore at Bay Robert in Martinique during the British attack on the island. Lieutenant-General Beckwith, the commander of the land forces, came aboard Acasta to oversee operations. The fleet sailed from Carlisle Bay, Barbados on 28 January and by 31 January the army transports were 12 miles to windward of Carvel Rock. Acasta bore up with them, accompanied by HMS Ethalion, HMS Forester, HMS Eurydice, HMS Ringdove, HMS Haughty and HMS Eclair. The British were hampered by the weather, which was very windy and squally with a considerable swell. Beaver decided to enter the Cul de Sac with all his warships rather than risk anchoring off Loup Garou. He prepared carefully, sending out boats with flags to mark the shoals before Acasta led HMS Penelope and the transports in. They successfully negotiated the passage and were all anchored by noon. The landing commenced and by sunset 4,500 men with a proportion of artillery and horses had been landed. The reserve were landed by 7 o'clock the next morning and the attack began. The assault ended in the French calling for a truce when one of the magazines in the fort blew up after a prolonged bombardment.
Cochrane was again in action in April, blockading a French squadron of three sail of the line and two frigates which had taken shelter in the Iles des Saintes near Guadeloupe. An attempt to capture the islands was prepared, and Captain Beaver aboard Acasta was made commodore of the division. The fleet sailed from Fort Royal Bay, Martinique on 12 April with two or three thousand troops. Beaver made a examination of the enemy positions with Cochrane before launching the attack. Despite heavy weather the night before, the ships had collected together by 10 o'clock on the morning of 14 April. Acasta led HMS Gloire, HMS Narcissus, HMS Circe and HMS Intrepid into the channel and anchored opposite the Bois Joly. The frigates covered the landings which were made without opposition except from the guns in the Islet of Cabrit which fired over the ridge. Three days of fighting followed, after which the French forts had been reduced and the French troops captured. The French ships had abandoned the area on 14 April.
[edit] Off the American coast
Acasta then returned to England and was under repair in Plymouth in 1811, with Captain Alexander Robert Kerr taking over command in April 1811. On the outbreak of the War of 1812, Acasta was assigned to operate off the coast of America. She captured the brig Federal on 17 September 1812. The Federal was bound for Boston from Prince's Island. The Acasta also retook the schooner Blonde on 17 October, which had been on passage from Martinique to Newfoundland. Further success followed in 3 November when Acasta, HMS Maidstone, HMS Aeolus and HMS Childers captured the 10-gun privateer schooner Snapper, crewed by 90 men and cruising out of Philadelphia. Acasta then captured the schooner Farmer's Fancy, enroute from Charlestown to Philadelphia on 11 December, and on 25 December Acasta and HMS Poictiers captured the letter of marque brig Herald, bound from Bordeaux to Baltimore. The Fancy was taken into service with the Royal Navy as the sloop-of-war HMS Barbadoes. Acasta also assisted in the capture of the privateer Snapper and the letter of marque Porcupine. The latter was carrying a valuable cargo from Bayonne to Boston. The privateer Highflyer was captured in January 1813, as well as the Lydia, out of Rhode Island.
During these actions, one Robert Cox, one of Acasta's seamen, was tried by court martial for deserting to the enemy on 13 May 1813 and for attempting to persuade others to do the same. The charges were proved and Cox was sentenced to death. Further captures followed, the American schooner Providence and the sloop Diana were sent into Halifax in July 1814, whilst another two schooners, the Stephanie and the Hazard were taken on 2 August, as was the sloop Jane.
[edit] Chasing the Constitution
Sir George Collier had also been active in American waters, and aboard HMS Leander had for several months been watching the USS Constitution, then in harbour at Boston. He had been forced to break off his surveillance in order to re-provision the Leander in Halifax, but had left Acasta and HMS Newcastle off the port. Whilst Collier was away the Constitution and two other heavy frigates left Boston on a cruise. Sir George prepared for pursuit, but had orders to send Acasta into Halifax for a refit. Captain Kerr pleaded to allowed to join the chase, and Collier relented and allowed Acasta to remain. The British squadron eventually sighted the Constitution in heavy weather on 11 March 1815. She was proceeding with two prizes, the sloops HMS Levant and HMS Cyane off Porto Praya. A chase ensued but the American was able to escape. The Levant was retaken however after Leander's fire had caused her run ashore. Acasta then took possession. Sir George eventually left Acasta and Newcastle windward of Barbados whilst he searched for the Constitution. The Constitution had instead returned to port and avoided an engagement.
Acasta returned to England in 1815, and spent a further six years in service before being broken up on 1 January 1821.
[edit] References
- Colledge, J. J. and Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy, Rev. ed., London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475.
- Details of HMS Acasta's career
