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Battle of Cygne against the British division -
Depiction by Mayer.
 1⁄36 scale model of Cygne, on display at the
Musée national de la Marine in Paris
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Cygne |
| Namesake | Swan |
| Ordered | 21 January 1806 [1] |
| Builder | Le Havre Dockyard [1] |
| Laid down | 28 April 1806 |
| Launched | 12 September 1806 |
| Fate | Wrecked on 13 December 1808 [1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Abeille-class brig [1] |
| Displacement | 350 ton (French) [1] |
| Length | 32 m (105 ft 0 in) [1] |
| Beam | 8.7 m (28 ft 7 in) [1] |
| Draught | 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) [1] |
| Complement | 84 [1] |
| Armament |
|
| Armour | Timber |
Cygne was an Abeille-class 16-gun brig of the French Navy, launched in 1806.
Career
On 10 November 1808, under Lieutenant Menouvrier Defresne, Cygne departed Cherbourg, part of a squadron under Rear-Admiral Hamelin also comprising the frigates Vénus, Junon, Amphitrite and the brig Papillon. bound for Martinique. [2] The next day, the ships of the squadron were scattered. [1] On 13, Cygne captured the Portuguese ship Miliciano and set her ablaze. [1]
Arriving near [artinique, Cygne was chased by the frigate HMS Circe (Augustin Collier), the corvette Stork (George Le Geyt), the brigs Morne Fortunee (John Brown), Amaranthe ( Pelham Brenton), Epervier (Thomas Tudor) and the schooner Express (William Dowers). [3] On 12 December, Cygne passed the northern cape of Martinique; seeing that he would be overhauled by the British squadron before reaching Saint-Pierre, Menouvrier Defresne decided to drop anchor under a shore battery at Anse Céron. [1] [4]
Two of the British brigs then dropped anchor in positions that cut Cygne's retreat to Saint-Pierre, while the other ships launched boats to attempt a cutting out boarding. [notes 1] Cygne sank three before they reached her. Circe approached with her crew ready for boarding, but was repelled by a grapeshot broadside, while the surviving boats reached Cygne's stern; the party was repelled and 17 men were taken prisoner. [4]
The next day, Cygne found herself becalmed; Defresne attempted to move his ship by having her hauled from the shore by infantrymen and by using her oars, and progressed towards Saint-Pierre, under fire from Amaranthe. However, due to a navigation error, Cygne ran aground and started taking water. As the other British ships closed within range, Defresne ordered Cygne abandoned and scuttled by fire. [1] [5] Defresne was offered a sword of honour by the city of Saint-Pierre for his defence. As a token of esteem, Brenton gifted him a sword belt, and Lieutenant Hay, a dagger. [5]
The wreck was discovered in 1991 and was explored the next year. [6] [7] A 1⁄36 scale model of the ship is on display at the Musée national de la Marine in Paris. [8]
Depictions of the battle between Cygne and British boats
Notes
- ^ Troude notes that Defresne reported seven boats each carrying about 50 men, while James states that only 68 men were involved.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Roche, p. 138
- ^ François Marie 2ème Denis de Keredern de Trobriand
- ^ Troude, pp. 519–520
- ^ a b Troude, p. 520
- ^ a b Troude, p. 521
- ^ Liste des naufrages en Martinique consignés dans les fonds d'Archives
- ^ Liste des sites archéologiques sous-marins de la Martinique
- ^ Maquette de bateau, Cygne, brick, 1806-1808
References
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
- Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 3. Challamel ainé.