HMS Ambuscade (1773) facts for kids
Ambuscade fighting Bayonnaise, by Jean-François Hue
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Great Britain |
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| Name | HMS Ambuscade |
| Ordered | 25 December 1770 |
| Builder | Adams & Barnard, Deptford |
| Laid down | April 1771 |
| Launched | 17 September 1773 |
| Commissioned | January 1776 |
| Captured | 14 December 1798 |
 France |
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| Name | Embuscade |
| Acquired | 14 December 1798 |
| Captured | 28 May 1803 |
 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Ambuscade |
| Acquired | 28 May 1803 |
| Fate | Broken up in 1810 |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | 32-gun fifth-rate Amazon-class frigate (1773) frigate |
| Length |
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| Beam | 35 ft 1.75 in (10.7125 m) |
| Draught |
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| Depth of hold | 12 ft 2 in (3.71 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 220 |
| Armament |
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HMS Ambuscade was a powerful 32-gun frigate of the Royal Navy. A frigate is a type of warship that was fast and used for scouting and protecting other ships. Built in 1773, she was an important ship during several major conflicts.
This ship had an interesting history. She was first part of the British Royal Navy. Then, the French captured her in 1798. They renamed her Embuscade. But the British took her back in 1803! She served the Royal Navy again until 1810, when she was taken apart.
Contents
Battles and Captures
HMS Ambuscade was involved in many naval actions. These often included capturing enemy ships or merchant vessels.
American Revolution (1775-1783)
During the American Revolution, Ambuscade was busy. On May 19, 1778, she recaptured a ship called Mary. Just a few days later, on May 31, she captured an American ship named Charming Sally near Cape Sambro.
In June 1779, Ambuscade had a short fight with the French brig Hélene. She captured Hélene, which had actually been a British ship before. The Royal Navy took Hélene back into service. A few days later, Ambuscade captured another French ship, a privateer called Prince de Montbray. Privateers were private ships allowed by a government to attack enemy shipping.
In January 1781, another British ship, HMS Prudente, captured a privateer named Américaine. Ambuscade shared in the prize money from this capture.
French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802)
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of conflicts between France and other European powers. Around June 1797, while in the Caribbean Sea, Ambuscade captured a small French privateer cutter named Buonaparte. This ship was only 32 tons and had 3 guns.
In August 1798, Ambuscade worked with other British ships, HMS Stag and the cutter Nimrod. Together, they captured a French ship called Francine. Later that year, Ambuscade also helped capture another ship, the Hirondelle.
The Battle with Bayonnaise
On December 13, 1798, Ambuscade captured a French merchant ship named Faucon. This ship was carrying sugar and coffee.
However, the very next day, something unexpected happened. Ambuscade was blocking the port of Rochefort when a smaller French ship, the corvette Bayonnaise, attacked her. A corvette is a smaller warship than a frigate. In a surprising turn of events, Bayonnaise managed to capture Ambuscade!
After this battle, the French took Ambuscade into their navy and renamed her Embuscade.
Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815)
The Napoleonic Wars followed the French Revolutionary Wars. On May 28, 1803, the famous British ship HMS Victory recaptured Embuscade from the French. She had been sailing from Cap Francais (now Cap-Haïtien) to Rochefort. The Royal Navy took her back into service and gave her original name, HMS Ambuscade, back.
In March 1805, Ambuscade joined a military expedition to Italy. She helped escort a group of transport ships to Malta, along with HMS Dragon and HMS Lively.
On March 4, 1807, Ambuscade captured a ship named Istria. Other British ships, including HMS Unité, HMS Melpomene, HMS Bittern, and HMS Weazel, were nearby and shared in the prize money from this capture.
End of Service
After a long and eventful career, HMS Ambuscade was taken apart in 1810. This process is called "broken up" in naval terms.
Images for kids
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Combat de la Bayonnaise contre l'Ambuscade, 1798, by Louis-Philippe Crépin
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Pierre Ozanne's depiction of the captured Ambuscade towing the much-damaged Bayonnaise back to harbour; the difference in size between the ships is exaggerated
