Action of 30 September 1780 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Action of 30 September 1780
Part of the American Revolutionary War
The Pearl taking Esperance - 30 Sep 1780
Date 30 September 1780 Location off the Bermudas Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
George Montagu	unknown
Strength
1 Frigate HMS Pearl	1 frigate Espérance
Casualties and losses
6 killed, 10 wounded	20 killed, 24 wounded 156 captured, 1 frigate captured

The Action of 30 September 1780 was a small but important sea battle. It happened near the Bermudas islands during the American Revolutionary War. In this fight, a British warship called HMS Pearl captured a French warship named Espérance. The Espérance was a French frigate, a type of fast warship, that had 32 guns and was built in 1779.

The Battle Begins

On September 30, 1780, the British ship HMS Pearl was sailing near the Bermudas. Its commander was Captain George Montagu. The Pearl was on its way to North America.

Suddenly, the Pearl spotted another frigate. Captain Montagu quickly realized it was an enemy ship. He ordered his crew to get ready for battle. This meant preparing the cannons and getting everything ready for a fight.

A Fierce Fight at Sea

The Pearl moved closer to the French ship. The two warships began to fire at each other. They fought very closely for about two hours.

After this intense start, the battle continued as a "running fight." This means the ships kept moving while still shooting at each other. This part of the fight lasted for more than two hours. Finally, the French frigate gave up. It "struck," which means it lowered its flag to show it surrendered.

The Captured Ship

The captured ship was indeed the French frigate Espérance. It was a good-sized ship, weighing about 850 tons. It carried 32 guns, which fired both twelve-pound and six-pound cannonballs.

The Espérance had nearly 200 men on board. It was also carrying valuable goods. The ship was traveling from Cape Francois to Bordeaux in France.

Who Won and What Happened Next

The British ship Pearl won this battle. The French ship Espérance had 20 sailors killed and 24 wounded. The remaining 156 crew members and marines were captured.

The Pearl had fewer losses. Six of its sailors were killed, and ten were wounded.

After the battle, the captured French frigate Espérance was taken by the British Navy. It was then added to the British fleet and given a new name: HMS Clinton.