Action of 15 June 1780 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Action of 15 June 1780
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Date 15 June 1780 Location off Ostend Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
Philemon Pownoll   † Edward Pellew	unknown
Strength
1 frigate	1 privateer frigate
Casualties and losses
5 killed & 20 wounded	1 frigate captured

The Action of 15 June 1780 was a small but important naval battle. It happened during the American War of Independence. This fight took place between a French privateer ship and a British Royal Navy ship. The battle happened off the coast near a place called Ostend.

A Sea Chase Begins

In the middle of June 1780, a British ship named HMS Apollo was sailing. It was a 32-gun frigate, a fast warship. Captain Philemon Pownoll was in charge of the Apollo. Another British ship, HMS Cleopatra, was with them. It was also a 32-gun frigate, led by Captain Hon. George Murray.

The two ships were cruising in the North Sea. They spotted a small boat called a cutter. Captain Murray was sent to check it out. As Cleopatra got closer to the cutter, a much larger ship appeared. This big ship was sailing away from the land.

Apollo Finds a Fight

While Cleopatra was busy with the cutter, Apollo went to investigate the large ship. The two ships began to get closer. They sailed back and forth, trying to get the best position. This best position was called the "weather gauge." It meant being upwind of the enemy. This gave them an advantage in battle.

Finally, the ships were close enough to start firing their cannons. Apollo's opponent was a French privateer ship. A privateer was a private ship given permission by a government to attack enemy ships. This French ship was named Stanislaus. It had 26 guns.

The Battle Heats Up

After some clever sailing, the two ships began to fire their cannons. They shot "broadsides" at each other. A broadside is when all the cannons on one side of a ship fire at the same time. The ships were sailing towards Ostend as they fought.

The battle was very intense. Cannons roared for almost an hour. During this fierce fight, Captain Pownoll of the Apollo was hit by a cannonball. He was killed instantly.

A New Commander Steps Up

With Captain Pownoll gone, Lieutenant Edward Pellew took command. He was a brave officer. Pellew continued the battle without hesitation. He kept fighting the Stanislaus with skill and determination.

Eventually, Pellew managed to force the Stanislaus towards the shore. The French privateer ran aground not far from Ostend. This meant it was stuck and couldn't fight anymore.

After the Battle

The Apollo had won the battle. But it came at a cost. Besides Captain Pownoll, five other British sailors were killed. Twenty more were wounded.

A group of Royal Marines was sent ashore. They captured the Stanislaus. The French ship was then taken into the British Navy. It was renamed HMS Proselyte.

Just a few days later, on June 18th, Lord Sandwich wrote to Lieutenant Pellew. Lord Sandwich was an important naval leader. He praised Pellew's brave actions. He promised Pellew an immediate promotion. This was a great honor for the young officer.