HMS Acasta (1797) facts for kids
HMS Acasta and HMS Magicienne at the Battle of San Domingo
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Great Britain |
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| Name | HMS Acasta |
| Builder | John Randall & Co, Rotherhithe |
| Launched | 14 March 1797 |
| Honours and awards |
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| Fate | Broken up on 1 January 1821 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Acasta-class fifth-rate frigate |
| Tons burthen | 112722⁄94> (bm) |
| Length | 154 ft (46.9 m) |
| Beam | 40 ft 9+1⁄2 in (12.4 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 3 in (4.3 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 320 |
| Armament |
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HMS Acasta was a powerful 40-gun Royal Navy frigate. She was a "fifth-rate" ship, meaning she was a medium-sized warship with a good number of guns. Acasta served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and also in the War of 1812. Even though she didn't fight in huge, famous battles, she was very successful at capturing enemy ships and clearing the seas of privateers. Privateers were private ships allowed by a government to attack enemy shipping. Acasta was eventually taken apart in 1821.
Contents
Building a Mighty Frigate
Sir William Rule designed Acasta to be a new type of frigate. She was meant to replace older, larger ships that carried guns on two decks. Acasta was one of the biggest frigates built in England at the time. She had 40 guns: 30 large 18-pounder guns on her main deck. She also had ten smaller 9-pounder guns on her upper decks (the quarterdeck and forecastle). Later, these 9-pounder guns were replaced with eight powerful 32-pounder carronades. Carronades were short, heavy cannons that fired large cannonballs over short distances. The ship was built by John Randall & Co. in Rotherhithe and launched on March 14, 1797.
Adventures in the French Revolutionary Wars
Acasta began her service in February 1797 under Captain Richard Lane. He sailed her to Jamaica in February 1798.
Capturing Enemy Ships
While in the Caribbean, Acasta captured many enemy ships, known as "prizes." These included:
- Santa Maria, a ship with four guns and 28 men (May 1).
- San Antonio, a ship that could hold 14 guns (May 12).
- Vengeance, a ship with six guns and 71 men (May 20).
- San Josef de Victorio, a ship with eight guns and 50 men (July 2).
- San Miguel y Acandoa, a ship with six guns and 28 men (July 13).
Acasta also captured other privateers and merchant ships. Sometimes, she worked with other British ships like Ceres. For example, Acasta and Ceres chased San Josef de Victorio ashore. When they couldn't pull her off the beach, they burned her to prevent the enemy from using her again.
Bold Attacks in Aguada Bay
On July 20, Acasta and Ceres destroyed three more enemy ships: Mutine, Va Tout, and Marie. Captain Lane and Captain Otway of Ceres learned that a French navy brig (a small, fast ship) and two privateer schooners were hiding in Aguada Bay. They were protected by a Spanish fort.
The British sent a "cutting out party" in boats. This was a risky mission where sailors rowed into enemy waters to capture or destroy ships. The British sailors successfully captured all the vessels. Mutine had sixteen 6-pounder guns and 90 men. The two privateers had four guns each and 45 men. The British had no injuries, but the French lost many men.
More Captures and Challenges
In late 1798, Acasta captured the French privateer brig Actif and the Spanish armed schooner Cincinnatus. She also burned a French privateer schooner. Working with Trent, Acasta captured the Spanish armed ship Penada.
Captain Lane died suddenly in Jamaica in May 1799. Captain Edward Fellowes took command and continued Acasta's success in the Caribbean. She captured the Spanish ship Juno, which was carrying valuable cargo like cocoa and indigo. Acasta also took a polacca (a type of sailing ship) and the French schooner Aimable Eustatie, which was full of coffee. Her boats also destroyed several small enemy boats.
Acasta continued to capture or sink many small, unarmed merchant ships. These included French and Spanish schooners and sloops carrying goods like plantains, coffee, rum, and even money.
In 1800, Acasta worked with Amphion to capture a Spanish brig with sugar and other goods. She also teamed up with Queen, Brunswick, and Aquilon to capture the Spanish schooner San Pablos del Mundo.
After all these successful missions, Captain Fellowes sailed Acasta back to England.
A New Captain and a Tragedy
In spring 1802, Captain James Athol Wood took command of Acasta. She spent some time in the Mediterranean Sea before returning to Portsmouth. On February 16, 1803, a sad event occurred. A boat from Acasta with a lieutenant and 13 men was exploring off Ostend when it sank. All 14 men drowned.
Napoleonic Wars: Big Battles and Invasions
When fighting with France started again, Acasta was under the temporary command of Captain James Oswald. She helped transport important admirals and joined the fleet watching the French navy.
Capturing More Prizes
Under Captain Oswald, Acasta captured several more ships. On May 24, 1803, she worked with Port Mahon and Gannet to capture the Dutch ship Berbice. She also captured the French brig Margaretta, carrying brandy and wine.
Acasta continued her success, capturing the Dutch ship Zorgwyk and the Swedish brig Gustava. In June, she captured several more ships, including Concorde and Mère de Famille.
By July 4, 1803, Captain Wood was back in command. On October 2, Acasta captured the French privateer Aventure. Aventure was a dangerous ship from Bordeaux with 20 guns and 144 men. Acasta chased her for 45 hours across the mid-Atlantic before finally catching and capturing her. Aventure had already captured two British ships, Royal Edward and St. Mary's Planter, from a convoy. Acasta rescued their captains and prevented Aventure from taking a fourth ship.
The Battle of San Domingo
In 1806, Acasta played a role in the Battle of San Domingo on February 6. This was a major naval battle where a British fleet fought a French squadron. Admiral Duckworth, the British commander, sent Acasta and Magicienne to scout ahead. They signaled that the French ships were preparing to leave their anchorage.
During the battle, Donegal forced the French ship Brave to surrender. Donegal then told Acasta to take control of Brave. The British captured three French ships of the line. To avoid capture, the captains of two other large French ships, Impérial and Diomède, intentionally ran their ships aground on reefs. On February 8, Acasta and Magicienne sent boats to these wrecked ships. They took the remaining French sailors as prisoners and then set both ships on fire. For their bravery in this battle, surviving sailors later received the Naval General Service Medal with a special "St. Domingo" clasp.
Leading Attacks in the Caribbean
In 1807, Captain Philip Beaver took command of Acasta. She escorted convoys (groups of ships traveling together for protection) from the Leeward Islands back to Britain. In 1808, she returned to the Leeward Islands.
On July 17, 1808, Acasta captured the French navy's corvette Serpent. A corvette was a small warship. Serpent had sixteen 24-pounder carronades and two long 6-pounder guns, with a crew of 104 men. The Royal Navy later took Serpent into its own service, renaming her Asp.
In 1809, Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane decided to attack Martinique, a French island. Captain Beaver, on Acasta, was given the important job of organizing the landing of the British troops. The fleet sailed on January 28. Acasta led the way, guiding the fleet into Bay Robert. She carefully sent out boats to mark dangerous shallow areas with flags. Acasta then led other warships and transport ships safely into the bay. By noon, all the ships were anchored. The landing began, and by sunset, about 4,500 soldiers were safely ashore. The French eventually surrendered on February 24. For this action, surviving sailors later received the Naval General Service Medal with a "Martinique" clasp.
Next, Acasta helped in an attack on the Îles des Saintes near Guadeloupe. A French squadron (a group of warships) was hiding there. Captain Beaver, still on Acasta, was made the commodore (leader) of the British division. The fleet sailed on April 12. Acasta led other frigates into the channel, covering the landings of the troops. After three days of fighting, the French forts were captured. However, the French warships managed to escape.
Acasta returned to England and was repaired in Plymouth in 1811. Captain Alexander Robert Kerr took over command. She continued to capture more enemy ships, including the schooner Trojan and Henry.
The War of 1812
When the War of 1812 began between Britain and the United States, Acasta was sent to operate off the American coast.
Hunting Privateers
On July 24, 1812, Acasta captured the American privateer Curlew. Curlew was a large ship with sixteen guns and 172 men. The Royal Navy took Curlew into its own service as HMS Columbia.
Acasta continued to capture American merchant ships, like the schooner Patriot (carrying flour) and the schooner Betsey (carrying brandy). On September 17, she captured the brig Federal. She also recaptured the schooner Blonde, which had been taken by an American privateer.
On November 3, Acasta, working with Maidstone, Aeolus, and Childers, captured the privateer schooner Snapper from Philadelphia. Snapper had ten guns and 90 men.
In December, Acasta teamed up with Poictiers and Maidstone to capture the American letter of marque brig Herald. A letter of marque allowed a merchant ship to carry guns and act as a privateer. The British took Herald into service as the sloop-of-war Barbadoes.
On January 9, 1813, Acasta and Poictiers captured the privateer Highflyer. Highflyer had five guns and 72 men and had been very successful in the West Indies. The Royal Navy also took Highflyer into service.
Acasta continued to be successful, capturing or sharing in the capture of many more American ships, including the brigs Gustavus, Staunch, Christina, Massasoit, and General Knox.
On June 17, 1813, Acasta and Valiant helped Wasp chase and capture the American letter of marque Porcupine. Porcupine was a fast ship carrying a valuable cargo.
Acasta also sailed up Long Island Sound, where she and Atalante captured and destroyed fifteen small American vessels. She sent the American schooner Prudence and the sloop Diana to Halifax in July 1814. She also took two more schooners, Stephanie and Hazard, and two sloops, Jane and Hazard.
On December 28, 1814, Acasta, Leander, and Newcastle captured the famous American privateer Prince de Neufchatel. This privateer was known for a fierce battle with British boats. At the time of her capture, Prince de Neufchatel had 18 guns and 129 men.
Chasing the Constitution
In early 1815, Leander, under Sir George Collier, was watching the American frigate USS Constitution in Boston harbor. When Leander had to leave for supplies, Acasta and Newcastle stayed to watch the port. While Collier was away, Constitution and two other large frigates left Boston.
Collier returned and prepared to chase them. Captain Kerr of Acasta begged to join the chase, even though his ship was supposed to go for repairs. Collier agreed. The British squadron finally spotted Constitution in bad weather on March 11, 1815. Constitution was with two captured British ships, the sloops Levant and Cyane. Due to the weather and some confusion, Constitution managed to escape.
However, fire from Leander caused Levant's crew to run her ashore, where Acasta then captured her. Acasta also recaptured St Lawrence that same month.
End of Service
Acasta returned to England in 1815 and was taken out of active service on September 12. She was finally broken up (taken apart) at Woolwich on January 1, 1821.
In Books
In the 1979 novel The Fortune of War by Patrick O'Brian, a famous author of naval stories, the main character Captain Jack Aubrey is said to be assigned to command HMS Acasta. However, he doesn't actually meet the ship in the book.
Images for kids
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HMS Acasta and HMS Magicienne at the Battle of San Domingo
