Action of 15 January 1782 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Action of 15 January 1782
Part of American Revolutionary War
Date 15 January 1782 Location off Jamaica Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Windsor	Unknown
Strength
1 frigate	2 armed merchant frigates
Casualties and losses
2 killed 7 wounded	Both captured 41 killed & wounded 205 captured

The action of 15 January 1782 was a small naval battle that happened near the island of Jamaica. It took place during the American Revolutionary War, a big conflict where the American colonies fought for independence from Great Britain. In this battle, a British warship called HMS Fox met and fought two Spanish merchant ships that were also armed.

What Happened in the Battle?

How the Ships Met

The British ship Fox was a fast warship known as a frigate. It had 32 guns and was led by Captain Thomas Windsor. In 1781, Captain Windsor was sailing near Jamaica. He spotted two other ships in the distance. He decided to go closer to see who they were. When he got near, he saw they were two smaller Spanish frigates. Captain Windsor then "showed his colours," which means he raised the British flag to show who he was.

The Fight Begins

The two Spanish ships were named Socorro Guipuzcoano (with 26 guns) and Dama Vizcaína (with 20 guns). These were merchant ships, but they also carried guns for protection. They tried to get away from the Fox, but the Fox was faster and caught up to them.

The battle lasted for almost an hour. The Spanish ships fought bravely, but eventually, they had to give up. They did this by "striking the colors," which means they lowered their flags to show they surrendered.

Who Won and What Was the Cost?

The British ship Fox won the battle. During the fight, the Fox had two crew members killed and seven others wounded. The Spanish ships were both captured. They had 41 crew members killed or wounded, and 205 others were captured.

After the Battle

What Happened to the Captured Ships?

The two Spanish ships were traveling from San Sebastián, Spain, to Havana, Cuba. After they were captured, they were taken to Jamaica. In the navy, when a ship is captured from an enemy, it's called a "prize." The crew who captured the ship would get "prize money," which was a share of the value of the captured ship and its cargo. This made Captain Windsor and his crew quite wealthy.

Captain Windsor's Reward

Because of his success in this battle, Captain Windsor was promoted. Soon after, on January 31, he was given command of another ship called HMS Lowestoffe.

The Fate of One Spanish Ship

One of the captured Spanish ships was later bought by investors from Liverpool, England. They renamed it Nancy. This ship was then used as a slave ship and was renamed again to Golden Age in 1783.