Action of 6 December 1782 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Action of 6 December 1782 |
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| Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Great Britain |
 France |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Captain John Collins |
Jean-Charles de Borda |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 1 third rate ship of the line HMS Ruby |
1 third rate ship of the line Solitaire 1 brig Speedy |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2 men wounded | Solitaire & Speedy captured, 35 killed & 55 wounded, 500 captured |
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The Action of 6 December 1782 was a short but important naval battle. It happened between a British warship, HMS Ruby, and a French warship, French ship Solitaire. The fight took place near the island of Martinique in the Caribbean Sea. The British ship, Ruby, won the battle easily.
Why This Battle Happened
By the end of 1782, the American Revolutionary War was still going on. In the Caribbean, the French and Spanish navies were mostly trying to defend themselves. This was because the British had won a big battle called the Battle of the Saintes. That victory showed that Britain was very strong at sea in the Caribbean. The British Royal Navy was also blocking important ports like Cap-François and Fort-Royal. They were also watching Havana to stop enemy ships.
The Battle Begins
On December 6, 1782, a British naval group led by Rear Admiral Richard Hughes spotted some French ships. This happened near Martinique. The British ship HMS Ruby had 64 guns and was commanded by Captain John Collins. It sailed straight towards the French ship French ship Solitaire, which also had 64 guns. The French ship was led by Jean-Charles de Borda.
Captain Collins's Ruby was faster and soon caught up with Solitaire. A battle between just these two ships began.
How the Battle Ended
The fight lasted for about forty minutes. During this time, the Ruby fired many shots at the Solitaire. The Solitaire's mizzenmast (a mast at the back of the ship) was shot down. Its ropes and sails were torn apart. The ship could barely move in the water.
At this point, Captain Borda of the Solitaire decided to surrender. This is called "striking the colours," which means lowering the ship's flag to show you give up.
During the battle, the British also captured a small French ship called Speedy. This brig fought very bravely, but many of its crew were hurt or killed, including its captain.
The French ship Solitaire had 35 men killed and 55 wounded. About 500 French sailors were captured. The British ship Ruby had only two men wounded, showing how one-sided the battle was.
What Happened Next
For his victory, Captain John Collins was made a knight by the British King. This meant he was given the title "Sir."
The captured French ship Solitaire was added to the British Royal Navy. It was renamed HMS Solitaire and served the British until 1790, when it was sold.
Jean-Charles de Borda, the French captain, was captured with his crew. However, he was soon released. He went back to work for the French Navy as an engineer. Later in his life, he became famous for his work as a mathematician, a physicist, and a political scientist.
