Action of 25 September 1806

Part of the Napoleonic Wars

Date	25 September 1806
Location	Bay of Biscay, near Rochefort
Result	British victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

France

Commanders and leaders

Commodore Sir Samuel Hood

Commodore Eleonore-Jean-Nicolas Soleil

Strength

Six ships of the line (Windsor Castle (98), HMS Monarch (74), Centaur (74), Achille (74), Revenge (74) and Mars (74)) and one brig (Atalante (16)). Only HMS Centaur, HMS Monarch and HMS Mars engaged.

Frigates: Thétis (40), Infatigable (40), Minerve (38), Armide (40) and Gloire (44)

Corvettes: Lynx (16) and Sylphe (16)

Casualties and losses

7 killed, 29 wounded.

Unknown, but believed to be heavy. Four frigates captured.

Frigates: Thétis (40), Infatigable (40), Minerve (38), Armide (40) and Gloire (44)

The Action of 25 September 1806 was a naval battle fought during the Napoleonic Wars off the French Biscay port of Rochefort. A French squadron comprising five frigates and two corvettes, sailing to the French West Indies with supplies and reinforcements, was intercepted by a British squadron of six ships of the line that was keeping a close blockade of the port as part of the Atlantic campaign of 1806. The British ships, under the command of Commodore Sir Samuel Hood, spotted the French convoy early in the morning of 25 September, just a few hours after the French had left port, and immediately gave chase. Although the French ships tried to escape, they were heavily laden with troops and stores, and the strong winds favoured the larger ships of the line, which caught the French convoy after a five-hour pursuit, although they had become separated from one another during the chase.

At 05:00 the leading British ship, HMS Monarch, was within range and opened fire on the French squadron, which divided. One frigate went north and was intercepted by HMS Mars, while another, accompanied by the two corvettes, turned south and managed to outrun HMS Windsor Castle. The main body of the French force remained together and met the attack of Monarch and the British flagship HMS Centaur with their broadsides. Although outnumbered and outclassed by the British squadron the French ships fought hard, inflicting damage on the leading British ships and severely wounding Commodore Hood. Eventually the strength of the British squadron told, and despite a fierce resistance the French ships surrendered one by one, the British capturing four of the seven vessels in the squadron.

...
Wikipedia