1805 naval battle
The action of 15 July 1805 was a small naval action that took place off Chausey, on the coast of Normandy, involving two British gun-brigs on one side, and vessels on the other. The becalmed gun-brigs became easy targets for the oar-powered gunboats, which were able to manoeuver as to overpower them and force their surrender. Also, the French vessels were armed with guns, which outranged the carronades that constituted the bulk of the British gunboat's armament.
Battle.
In July 1805 , together with her sister-ship , were part of the Royal Navy force blockading the coat of northern France. On 15 July the two gun-brigs were off Granville, Manche when they became becalmed. To avoid the tide carrying them onto the coast, the two anchored in the afternoon off Chausey.
The news that the gun-brigs were anchored off Chausey was carried to Commander Joseph Collet, commanding officer of the 1st gunboat division of the Boulogne Flotilla stationed in Granville. Collet departed Granville on 15 July at 21:00, leading seven gunboats and a dogger, or six gunboats, a schooner, and a ketch.
A heavy fog came up and at 2:30 am on 16 July, several French vessels were seen to emerge from the darkness. "Plumper" attempted to get closer to "Teazer" so that they could support each other, but was unable to so. The French force, which consisted of six brigs, a schooner, and a ketch, stood off and battered "Plumper" with their guns. "Plumper" returned fire, but being armed primarily with carronades, was outranged. During the exchange of fire, Lieutenant James Henry Garrety, "Plumper'"s captain, had an arm shot off, a leg crippled by grapeshot, and his chest lacerated by a piece of langrage. Four seamen were also wounded. After an hour, Sub-Lieutenant Richards, who had taken over command after Garrety had been taken below, struck. Later, some of "Plumper'"s crew accused Richards of having too quickly surrendered.
Having overpowered "Plumper", Collet anchored his vessels to give his rowers some rest. After daybreak, Collet pressed his attack on "Teazer", which struck at 7:30am.
Aftermath.
The French took the two badly damaged gun-brigs into Granville. "Plumper" in particular was in a sinking condition, and barely reached Granville before she ran aground. Collet was slightly wounded by a splinter, but otherwise there were no reported casualties.
"Plumper" was brought into service in the French Navy, where she served until 1827; from 1815 on her name was "Argus". "Teazer" was also commissioned in the French Navy, and served under the same name until and recaptured her on 15 August 1811.
Notes, citations, and references.
Notes.
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Citations.
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