133-750: Solomon Ferris (c. 1748 – 27 May 1803) was an officer in the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars . Ferris's rise through the ranks brought him the commands of several small ships during the period of peace between the end of the American War of Independence and the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars, but he did not achieve
266-465: A 6-gun cutter off Jutland which entered the harbour of Huilbo and ran ashore. Melpomene anchored and dispatched her boats while providing covering fire. The crew were able to destroy the cutter with an officer, two seamen and three marines wounded in the process. Melpomene was very nearly captured on 23 May 1809, when 20 Danish gunboats found her becalmed in the Great Belt. The British frigate
399-463: A Royal Navy captain, has been responsible for the former duty whilst Commander Task Force Iraqi Maritime, a Royal Navy commodore, was responsible for the latter. The mission ended in May 2011. The financial costs attached to nuclear deterrence, including Trident missile upgrades and replacements, have become an increasingly significant issue for the navy. HMS Raleigh at Torpoint, Cornwall ,
532-421: A boat action against a Senegalese trading post, returning on 22 April with a French brigantine and a sloop full of rice. On 17 June, Melpomene chased a 10-gun privateer, off the coast of France, for 57 hours before catching it and forcing it to strike. It turned out to be Auguste with a French crew of 50 men, on the way to Guadeloupe from Bordeaux. On 3 January 1801, five boats from Melpomene crossed
665-606: A comprehensive transformation, brought about by steam propulsion , metal ship construction, and explosive munitions. Despite having to completely replace its war fleet, the Navy managed to maintain its overwhelming advantage over all potential rivals. Owing to British leadership in the Industrial Revolution , the country enjoyed unparalleled shipbuilding capacity and financial resources, which ensured that no rival could take advantage of these revolutionary changes to negate
798-507: A convoy of merchantmen near Hango Head . Determined to capture or destroy as much of the convoy as possible, on 7 July at 21:00, 270 men from Melpomene , HMS Bellerophon and Implacable set off in 17 of the ships' boats. The Russians had positioned their vessels between two rocks, preventing them from being outflanked and forcing the British to row straight into a hail of grapeshot . The British eventually managed to capture six of
931-478: A gradual decline in its fleet size in accordance with the changed strategic environment it operated in. While new and more capable ships are continually brought into service, such as the Queen Elizabeth -class aircraft carriers , Astute -class submarines , and Type 45 destroyers , the total number of ships and submarines operated has continued to steadily reduce. This has caused considerable debate about
1064-415: A heavy reliance upon impressed labour. This would result in problems countering large, well-armed United States Navy frigates which outgunned Royal Naval vessels in single-opponent actions, as well as United States privateers, when the American War of 1812 broke out concurrent with the war against Napoleonic France and its allies. The Royal Navy still enjoyed a numerical advantage over the former colonists on
1197-599: A key part in establishing and defending the British Empire , and four Imperial fortress colonies and a string of imperial bases and coaling stations secured the Royal Navy's ability to assert naval superiority. Following World War I , it was significantly reduced in size. During the Cold War , the Royal Navy transformed into a primarily anti-submarine force , hunting for Soviet submarines and mostly active in
1330-862: A national institution and not a possession of the Crown as it had been before. Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, England joined the War of the Grand Alliance which marked the end of France 's brief pre-eminence at sea and the beginning of an enduring British supremacy which would help with the creation of the British Empire. In 1707, the Scottish navy was united with the English Royal Navy. On Scottish men-of-war,
1463-756: A navy, this meant the French landed at Sandwich unopposed in April 1216. John's flight to Winchester and his death later that year left the Earl of Pembroke as regent, and he was able to marshal ships to fight the French in the Battle of Sandwich in 1217 – one of the first major English battles at sea. The outbreak of the Hundred Years War emphasised the need for an English fleet. French plans for an invasion of England failed when Edward III of England destroyed
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#17327728813451596-551: A peak of efficiency, dominating the navies of all Britain's adversaries, which spent most of the war blockaded in port. Under Lord Nelson , the navy defeated the combined Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar (1805). Ships of the line and even frigates, as well as manpower, were prioritised for the naval war in Europe, however, leaving only smaller vessels on the North America Station and other less active stations, and
1729-497: A range of vessels, including so-called "motherships" planned for procurement by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The Hunt-class vessels combine the separate roles of the traditional minesweeper and the active minehunter in one hull. If required, the vessels can take on the role of offshore patrol vessels. A fleet of eight River-class offshore patrol vessels are in service with the Royal Navy. The three Batch 1 ships of
1862-469: A sand bar on the Senegal river to cut-out a French 18-gun brig. As they approached, the brig opened fire sinking two of the British boats but the remainder made it alongside and after a short struggle, succeeded in boarding and capturing her. The British boats then attacked an armed schooner, which had sought shelter under a gun battery, but were forced to retreat. While bringing out the brig, she grounded on
1995-473: A single force. During the early 17th century, England's relative naval power deteriorated until Charles I undertook a major programme of shipbuilding. His methods of financing the fleet contributed to the outbreak of the English Civil War , and the abolition of the monarchy . The Commonwealth of England replaced many names and symbols in the new Commonwealth Navy, associated with royalty and
2128-448: A small permanent core of warships in peacetime. England's naval organisation was haphazard and the mobilisation of fleets when war broke out was slow. Control of the sea only became critical to Anglo-Saxon kings in the 10th century. In the 11th century, Aethelred II had a large fleet built by a national levy. During the period of Danish rule in the 11th century, authorities maintained a standing fleet by taxation, and this continued for
2261-754: A small squadron that captured the island of Gorée . She later returned to the Channel where, in July 1804, she took part in a bombardment of Le Havre . For much of 1809, she was employed in the Baltic where she fought in some notable actions during the Gunboat War and the Anglo-Russian War . The French ship Melpomène was built in 1788 at Toulon . A 36-gun frigate of the Minerve Class , she
2394-485: A squadron under Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois . This action, the First Battle of Algeciras , was hard-fought, and the British were hampered by shallow waters, light breezes and the presence of enemy shore batteries. Hannibal ran aground and was heavily damaged, sustaining a number of casualties. Attempts to float her off failed, and the rest of the fleet was unable to assist her. In a hopeless position, Ferris
2527-814: A time under Edward the Confessor , who frequently commanded fleets in person. After the Norman Conquest , English naval power waned and England suffered large naval raids from the Vikings. In 1069, this allowed for the invasion and ravaging of England by Jarl Osborn, brother of King Svein Estridsson , and his sons. The lack of an organised navy came to a head during the First Barons' War , in which Prince Louis of France invaded England in support of northern barons. With King John unable to organise
2660-548: A two-hour bombardment from the shore batteries, no further casualties were suffered. Following a failed French invasion of Ireland in 1798, the Channel Fleet was on high alert and prepared for the next attempt which was made in August. A French fleet sent in support, under Jean-Baptiste-François Bompart , was routed at the Battle of Tory Island on 12 October and a squadron of four frigates under commodore Daniel Savary
2793-488: Is described as a former shipmate of the fictional character Jack Aubrey . Ferris was born circa 1748 and embarked on a naval career. He was commissioned as a lieutenant on 9 September 1778, during the American War of Independence, and was further promoted to commander on 22 November 1790. He went on to command small ships prior to the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars . His first ship, which he
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#17327728813452926-569: Is one of the largest ships in the Navy. As of 2018, the newly commissioned HMS Magpie also undertakes survey duties at sea. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary plans to introduce two new Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships , in part to protect undersea cables and gas pipelines and partly to compensate for the withdrawal of all ocean-going survey vessels from Royal Navy service. The first of these vessels, RFA Proteus , entered service in October 2023. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) provides support to
3059-574: Is primarily designed for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare and the Royal Navy describe the destroyer's mission as "to shield the Fleet from air attack". They are equipped with the PAAMS (also known as Sea Viper) integrated anti-aircraft warfare system which incorporates the sophisticated SAMPSON and S1850M long range radars and the Aster 15 and 30 missiles. Sixteen Type 23 frigates were delivered to
3192-759: Is the submarine based element of the Royal Navy. It is sometimes referred to as the " Silent Service ", as the submarines are generally required to operate undetected. Founded in 1901, the service made history in 1982 when, during the Falklands War, HMS Conqueror became the first nuclear-powered submarine to sink a surface ship, ARA General Belgrano . Today, all of the Royal Navy's submarines are nuclear-powered . The Royal Navy operates four Vanguard -class ballistic missile submarines displacing nearly 16,000 tonnes and equipped with Trident II missiles (armed with nuclear weapons ) and heavyweight Spearfish torpedoes , to carry out Operation Relentless,
3325-766: Is the basic training facility for newly enlisted ratings. Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon is the initial officer training establishment for the Royal Navy. Personnel are divided into a warfare branch , which includes Warfare Officers (previously named seamen officers) and Naval Aviators , as well other branches including the Royal Naval Engineers , Royal Navy Medical Branch , and Logistics Officers (previously named Supply Officers ). Present-day officers and ratings have several different uniforms ; some are designed to be worn aboard ship, others ashore or in ceremonial duties. Women began to join
3458-468: Is the traditional workhorse of the Navy. As of May 2024 there are six Type 45 destroyers and 9 Type 23 frigates in commission. Among their primary roles is to provide escort for the larger capital ships—protecting them from air, surface and subsurface threats. Other duties include undertaking the Royal Navy's standing deployments across the globe, which often consists of: counter-narcotics, anti-piracy missions and providing humanitarian aid. The Type 45
3591-468: Is to conduct amphibious warfare, they have also been deployed for humanitarian aid missions. Both vessels were in reserve as of 2024 and in November 2024, the newly elected Labour government indicated that they would in fact be retired from service completely by March 2025. While second-line amphibious capabilities remained within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the future of the navy's amphibious capability
3724-777: The Admiralty Board , chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence . The Royal Navy operates from three bases in Britain where commissioned ships and submarines are based: Portsmouth , Clyde and Devonport , the last being the largest operational naval base in Western Europe, as well as two naval air stations, RNAS Yeovilton and RNAS Culdrose where maritime aircraft are based. The Royal Navy stated its six major roles in umbrella terms in 2017 as. The Royal Navy protects British interests at home and abroad, executing
3857-527: The American War of Independence . The United States was allied to France , and the Netherlands and Spain were also at war with Britain. In the Battle of the Chesapeake , the British fleet failed to lift the French blockade, resulting in the surrender of an entire British army at Yorktown . The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1793–1801, 1803–1814 & 1815) saw the Royal Navy reach
3990-647: The Battle of Britain in order to neutralise the Home Fleet , but faced stiff resistance from the Royal Air Force . The Luftwaffe bombing offensive during the Kanalkampf phase of the battle targeted naval convoys and bases in order to lure large concentrations of RAF fighters into attrition warfare . At Taranto , Admiral Cunningham commanded a fleet that launched the first all-aircraft naval attack in history. The Royal Navy suffered heavy losses in
4123-547: The English Channel , where she helped to contain enemy privateering. In October 1798, she chased a French frigate squadron sent to find the French fleet under Jean-Baptiste-François Bompart , that was routed at the Battle of Tory Island and in August 1799, she joined Andrew Mitchell's squadron for the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland . In April 1800, Melpomene was active along the coast of Senegal and led
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4256-526: The GIUK gap . Following the collapse of the Soviet Union , its focus has returned to expeditionary operations around the world and it remains one of the world's foremost blue-water navies . The Royal Navy maintains a fleet of technologically sophisticated ships, submarines, and aircraft, including 2 aircraft carriers , 2 amphibious transport docks , 4 ballistic missile submarines (which maintain
4389-735: The Invergordon Mutiny took place in the Atlantic Fleet over the National Government 's proposed 25% pay cut, which was eventually reduced to 10%. International tensions increased in the mid-1930s and the re-armament of the Royal Navy was well under way by 1938. In addition to new construction, several existing old battleships , battlecruisers and heavy cruisers were reconstructed, and anti-aircraft weaponry reinforced, while new technologies, such as ASDIC , Huff-Duff and hydrophones , were developed. At
4522-697: The Kingdom of England had possessed less-organised naval forces for centuries prior to this. The Royal Scots Navy (or Old Scots Navy) had its origins in the Middle Ages until its merger with the English Royal Navy per the Acts of Union 1707 . During much of the medieval period, fleets or "king's ships" were often established or gathered for specific campaigns or actions, and these would disperse afterwards. These were generally merchant ships enlisted into service. Unlike some European states, England did not maintain
4655-514: The Merchant Navy available to the RFA under a private finance initiative , while the civilian Marine Services operate auxiliary vessels which further support the Royal Navy in various capacities. The RFA replenishes Royal Navy warships at sea, and augments the Royal Navy's amphibious warfare capabilities through its three Bay-class landing ship vessels. It also works as a force multiplier for
4788-596: The Middle East , especially Iraq . The Royal Navy played an historic role in several great global explorations of science and discovery. Beginning in the 18th century many great voyages were commissioned often in co-operation with the Royal Society , such as the Northwest Passage expedition of 1741 . James Cook led three great voyages, with goals such as discovering Terra Australis , observing
4921-462: The Ministry of Defence published figures showing that the Royal Navy and Royal Marines had 29,090 full-time trained personnel compared with a target of 30,600. In 2023, it was reported that the Royal Navy was experiencing significant recruiting challenges with a net drop of some 1,600 personnel (4 percent of the force) from mid-2022 to mid-2023. This was posing a significant problem in the ability of
5054-765: The North America and West Indies Station . After the First World War, this formation assumed responsibility for the eastern Pacific Ocean and the western South Atlantic and was known as the America and West Indies Station until 1956. In 1921, due to the ambitions of Imperial Japan and the threat of the Imperial Japanese Navy , it was decided to construct the Singapore Naval Base . During this period, naval warfare underwent
5187-537: The North Sea . From March 1798 she was employed as a troopship , and was fitted out as such between May and July 1799, before finally being paid off in October 1799. Ferris's next ship was the 64-gun HMS Ruby , which he commissioned in 1800. He had some success with her, capturing the 22-gun French privateer Fortune in the South Atlantic on 14 July 1800. He took part in the capture of Gorée from
5320-568: The Transit of Venus and searching for the elusive North-West Passage , these voyages are considered to have contributed to world knowledge and science. In the late 18th century, during a four year voyage Captain George Vancouver made detailed maps of the western coastline of North America . In the 19th century, Charles Darwin made further contributions to science during the second voyage of HMS Beagle . The Ross expedition to
5453-709: The Type 26 Frigate , with the incremental retirement of the remaining Type 23s commencing in 2021. The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 reduced the procurement of Type 26 to eight with five Type 31e frigates also to be procured. There are two classes of MCMVs in the Royal Navy: one Sandown -class minehunter and six Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels . All the Sandown-class vessels are to be withdrawn from service by 2025 and are being replaced by autonomous systems that are planned to operate from
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5586-673: The War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1714) granted Britain Gibraltar and Menorca , providing the Navy with Mediterranean bases. The expansion of the Royal Navy would encourage the British colonisation of the Americas , with British (North) America becoming a vital source of timber for the Royal Navy. There was a defeat during the frustrated siege of Cartagena de Indias in 1741. A new French attempt to invade Britain
5719-461: The capture of the port on 10 August and the seizure of Melpomène and a second French frigate, Mignonne . During the surrender negotiations, the French asked that they be allowed to keep the frigates to transport the garrison to Toulon but the British refused. Mignonne was deemed unserviceable but Melpomene was put under the command of Charles Patterson and taken to Chatham for refitting. The work cost £6,534 and took until 1 June 1795. She
5852-551: The high church , and expanded it to become the most powerful in the world. The fleet was quickly tested in the First Anglo-Dutch War (1652–1654) and the Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660) , which saw the British conquest of Jamaica and successful attacks on Spanish treasure fleets . The 1660 Restoration saw Charles II rename the Royal Navy again, and started use of the prefix HMS . The Navy remained
5985-459: The increasing cost of weapons systems . In 1981, Defence Secretary John Nott had advocated and initiated a series of cutbacks to the Navy . The Falklands War however proved a need for the Royal Navy to regain an expeditionary and littoral capability which, with its resources and structure at the time, would prove difficult. At the beginning of the 1980s, the Royal Navy was a force focused on blue-water anti-submarine warfare . Its purpose
6118-477: The nuclear deterrent ), 6 nuclear fleet submarines , 6 guided missile destroyers , 9 frigates , 7 mine-countermeasure vessels and 26 patrol vessels . As of May 2024, there are 66 commissioned ships (including submarines as well as one historic ship, HMS Victory ) in the Royal Navy, plus 13 ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). There are also four Point-class sealift ships from
6251-724: The 40-gun Concorde which was away to his south-west but heading south. The weather took a turn for the worse during the evening of 30 October and the French managed to escape to Rochefort . Melpomene continued her crusade against privateering, capturing Tigre on 17 November and the 16-gun Zele in the Bay of Biscay on 28 February following, until she was called to join Andrew Mitchell's squadron for an Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland in August 1799. A combined fleet under Admiral Lord Duncan , comprising eight ships-of-the-line, three fourth rates and six frigates, one of which
6384-430: The 64-gun HMS Ruby to be revictualing. By the time the squadron arrived at Gorée, on 4 April, the French frigates had gone. With that additional protection removed, Hamilton judged that the island was vulnerable and sent a demand for its surrender. Terms were agreed and at midnight, marines from both ships were landed and the island brought under British control. On 13 April, some of the squadron's crew took part in
6517-409: The 80-gun HMS Caesar . At 10:12 he received orders to move inshore and attack Linois's flagship, the 80-gun Formidable , Saumarez detailing him to "go and rake the French admiral". Ferris used the light winds to pull ahead, and then tacked back to Formidable . As he approached however, Hannibal ran aground. Though in a position to fire on both the Formidable and the Spanish defences, his ship
6650-410: The Age of Sail records it as occurring on 27 May. The European Magazine has 20 May, and The Gentleman's Magazine has 26 May. Royal Navy The Royal Navy ( RN ) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom , British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies , and a component of His Majesty's Naval Service . Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from
6783-418: The Antarctic made several important discoveries in biology and zoology . Several of the Royal Navy's voyages ended in disaster such as those of Franklin and Scott . Between 1872 and 1876 HMS Challenger undertook the first global marine research expedition, the Challenger expedition . During World War I , the Royal Navy's strength was mostly deployed at home in the Grand Fleet , confronting
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#17327728813456916-422: The Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Control of military forces in Nova Scotia passed to the new Government of Canada after the 1867 Confederation of Canada and control of the naval dockyard in Halifax, Nova Scotia was transferred to the Government of Canada in 1905, five years prior to the establishment of the Royal Canadian Navy . Prior to the 1920s, it was presumed that the only navies that could challenge
7049-436: The Atlantic, and from its base in Bermuda it blockaded the Atlantic seaboard of the United States throughout the war and carried out (with Royal Marines, Colonial Marines , British Army , and Board of Ordnance military corps units) various amphibious operations, most notably the Chesapeake campaign . On the Great Lakes , however, the United States Navy established an advantage. In 1860, Albert, Prince Consort , wrote to
7182-491: The British Army and the Board of Ordnance military corps were cutback, weakening garrisons around the Empire, the Militia became a paper tiger, and the Volunteer Force and Fencible units disbanded, though the Yeomanry was maintained as a back-up to the police). Britain relied, throughout the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, on imperial fortress colonies (originally Bermuda , Gibraltar, Halifax (Nova Scotia) , and Malta ). These areas permitted Britain to control
7315-694: The British advantage in ship numbers. In 1889, Parliament passed the Naval Defence Act , which formally adopted the 'two-power standard', which stipulated that the Royal Navy should maintain a number of battleships at least equal to the combined strength of the next two largest navies. The end of the 19th century saw structural changes and older vessels were scrapped or placed into reserve, making funds and manpower available for newer ships. The launch of HMS Dreadnought in 1906 rendered all existing battleships obsolete. The transition at this time from coal to fuel-oil for boiler firing would encourage Britain to expand their foothold in former Ottoman territories in
7448-475: The Foreign Secretary John Russell, 1st Earl Russell with his concern about "a perfect disgrace to our country, and particularly to the Admiralty ". The stated shipbuilding policy of the British monarchy was to take advantage of technological change and so be able to deploy a new weapons system that could defend British interests before other national and imperial resources are reasonably mobilized. Nevertheless, British taxpayers scrutinized progress in modernizing
7581-441: The French fleet in the Battle of Sluys in 1340. England's naval forces could not prevent frequent raids on the south-coast ports by the French and their allies. Such raids halted only with the occupation of northern France by Henry V . A Scottish fleet existed by the reign of William the Lion . In the early 13th century there was a resurgence of Viking naval power in the region. The Vikings clashed with Scotland over control of
7714-430: The French in April 1801, while cruising with a squadron under the command of Captain Sir Charles Hamilton . Hamilton, in command of the 44-gun HMS Melpomene had received intelligence that there were three French frigates at anchor there. Hamilton sailed to investigate, taking with him Ferris in the Ruby and Captain William Taylor in 48-gun HMS Magnanime . The frigates were not there, so Hamilton summoned
7847-413: The German High Seas Fleet across the North Sea. Several inconclusive clashes took place between them, chiefly the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The British fighting advantage proved insurmountable, leading the High Seas Fleet to abandon any attempt to challenge British dominance. The Royal Navy under John Jellicoe also tried to avoid combat and remained in port at Scapa Flow for much of the war. This
7980-443: The Mediterranean while commanding HMS Speedy . c. The president of the court was Rear-Admiral John Holloway , with the court composed of Captains George Murray , George Duff , James Newman-Newman , Robert Lambert , William Granger , Francis Pickmore , Edward Foote , Richard Dacres and Richard Retalick . d. The exact date of Ferris's death is hard to determine. Winfield's British Warships in
8113-423: The Nieuwe Diep and captured the ships there which were laid up in ordinary . Among them were 13 warships carrying a total of 510 guns, and of these, four small frigates and a 44-gun vessel were added to the Royal Navy. Two days later, Mitchell's squadron entered the Vlieter roads where a Dutch squadron under Vice-Admiral Samuel Story was anchored. Three of the frigates, none of which were Melpomene , grounded in
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#17327728813458246-434: The Pacific and had begun building large, modern fleets which went to war with each other in 1904. Britain's reliance on Malta, via the Suez Canal, as the nearest Imperial fortress was improved, relying on amity and common interests that developed between Britain and the United States during and after World War I, by the completion of the Panama Canal in 1914, allowing the cruisers based in Bermuda to more easily and rapidly reach
8379-407: The Queen's ships in highly profitable raids against Spanish commerce and colonies. The Royal Navy was then used in 1588 to repulse the Spanish Armada , but the English Armada was lost the next year. In 1603, the Union of the Crowns created a personal union between England and Scotland. While the two remained distinct sovereign states for a further century, the two navies increasingly fought as
8512-475: The Royal Navy at sea in several capacities. For fleet replenishment, it deploys one Fleet Solid Support Ship and six fleet tankers (three of which are maintained in reserve). The RFA also has one aviation training and casualty reception vessel, which also operates as a Littoral Strike Ship . Three amphibious transport docks are also incorporated within its fleet. These are known as the Bay-class landing ships, of which four were introduced in 2006–2007, but one
8645-430: The Royal Navy belonged to nations on the Atlantic Ocean or its connected seas, despite the growth of the Imperial Russian and United States Pacific fleets during the latter half of the 19th Century. Britain relied on Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea, to project power to the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean via the Suez Canal after its completion in 1869. It relied on friendship and common interests between Britain and
8778-418: The Royal Navy in 1917 with the formation of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), which was disbanded after the end of the First World War in 1919. It was revived in 1939, and the WRNS continued until disbandment in 1993, as a result of the decision to fully integrate women into the structures of the Royal Navy. Women now serve in all sections of the Royal Navy including the Royal Marines . In August 2019,
8911-417: The Royal Navy so as to ensure, that taypayers' money is not wasted. Between 1815 and 1914, the Royal Navy saw little serious action, owing to the absence of any opponent strong enough to challenge its dominance, though it did not suffer the drastic cutbacks the various military forces underwent in the period of economic austerity that followed the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the American War of 1812 (when
9044-400: The Royal Navy, often doing patrols that frigates used to do. The Royal Navy is part of His Majesty's Naval Service, which also includes the Royal Marines and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The professional head of the Naval Service is the First Sea Lord who is an admiral and member of the Defence Council of the United Kingdom . The Defence Council delegates management of the Naval Service to
9177-429: The Royal Navy, with the final vessel, HMS St Albans , commissioned in June 2002. However, the 2004 Delivering Security in a Changing World review announced that three frigates would be paid off as part of a cost-cutting exercise, and these were subsequently sold to the Chilean Navy . The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review announced that the remaining 13 Type 23 frigates would eventually be replaced by
9310-437: The Royal Navy. In December 2019, the modified Batch 1 River-class vessel, HMS Clyde , was decommissioned, with the Batch 2 HMS Forth taking over duties as the Falkland Islands patrol ship. HMS Protector is a dedicated Antarctica patrol ship that fulfils the nation's mandate to provide support to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). HMS Scott is an ocean survey vessel and at 13,500 tonnes
9443-419: The Russian Emperor. After searching all the creeks and inlets along the coast but finding nothing else, attention switched to the north side of the Gulf where the boats of Implacable , Melpomene and Prometheus captured three more vessels among the many islands that fringe Finland. They also discovered eight Russian gunboats, each mounting a 32 and a 24-pounder gun, and carrying a crew of 46 men, protecting
9576-903: The STOVL variant of the F-35 Lightning II . Queen Elizabeth began sea trials in June 2017, was commissioned later that year, and entered service in 2020, while the second, HMS Prince of Wales , began sea trials on 22 September 2019, was commissioned in December 2019 and was declared operational as of October 2021. The aircraft carriers form a central part of the UK Carrier Strike Group alongside escorts and support ships. Amphibious warfare ships in current service include two landing platform docks ( HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark ). While their primary role
9709-506: The United Kingdom's Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD). The UK government has committed to replace these submarines with four new Dreadnought -class submarines , which will enter service in the "early 2030s" to maintain this capability. HMS Melpomene (1794) HMS Melpomene was a 38-gun frigate of the Royal Navy . Originally a French vessel, she was captured at Calvi on 10 August 1794 and first saw British service in
9842-739: The United States (which controlled transit through the Panama Canal , completed in 1914) during and after the First World War, and on Bermuda, to project power the length of the western Atlantic, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The area controlled from Bermuda (and Halifax until 1905) had been part of the North America Station, until the 1820s, which then absorbed the Jamaica Station to become
9975-421: The area, and was making for Algeciras . Saumarez gathered his force and sailed to Algeciras, arriving at 07:00 on 6 July. Finding Linois prepared for him, Saumarez entered the bay, causing Linois to move into the shallower waters around the bay, under the close protection of shore batteries. Ferris, in the rear of the attack, arrived later to the action, at 09:20, and took up position ahead of Saumarez's flagship,
10108-564: The attempt was beaten off. The wind died away, preventing the other ships from coming in close to assist Ferris. The French were severely mauled by Saumarez's squadron, several French ships also running aground, but the wind prevented the British from taking advantage of the opportunity to closely engage them. Hannibal was under heavy fire from the anchored Formidable and an array of Spanish batteries and gunboats, and could not bring her guns to bear on them. The main and mizzen masts were shot away, and her casualties mounted, while attempts to pull
10241-472: The bar and had to be abandoned; the British making off in their boats under heavy fire from the shore batteries. The expedition was a costly one for the British, with 11 men killed and 18 wounded out of the 96 who took part. The French brig, Senegal , broke up and sank into the sand. Melpomene needed a small repair in February 1803 which was undertaken at Deptford and took about a month to complete. She
10374-422: The bay. At 03:00 they came alongside Adventurier and a struggle ensued in which the French crew of 79 were eventually subdued. The British had one man killed, one missing and four wounded while the French had 16 wounded, several mortally. The bad weather which had helped the attackers remain undetected during their approach became a hindrance as the captured vessel was worked out to sea but, despite having to endure
10507-574: The beginning of the war without the loss of a single life. The Royal Navy nevertheless remained active in other theatres, most notably in the Mediterranean Sea , where they waged the Dardanelles and Gallipoli campaigns in 1914 and 1915. British cruisers hunted down German commerce raiders across the world's oceans in 1914 and 1915, including the battles of Coronel , Falklands Islands , Cocos , and Rufiji Delta , among others. At
10640-514: The boarding parties sought to extinguish the fires. It has not been established whether what followed was a misunderstanding aboard Hannibal or a deliberate ploy by the French, but Hannibal 's ensign was then rehoisted upside down, a recognised international signal of distress . Captain George Heneage Lawrence Dundas , who had watched the entire battle from Gibraltar, believed on seeing the flag that it meant that Ferris
10773-553: The boats had been seized by the French as their crews boarded Hannibal . Ferris and his crew were taken prisoner, taking no part in the Second Battle of Algeciras , fought six days later, which ended in a British victory. Hannibal had suffered 75 dead, 62 wounded and 6 missing during the battle. Ferris was soon exchanged on parole, and was subject to a court-martial for the loss of Hannibal . The court convened on 1 September, aboard HMS Gladiator . After hearing
10906-539: The character Jack Aubrey , who was based on the real-life exploits of Lord Cochrane , shortly after the First Battle of Algeciras, and is described as a former shipmate of Jack's. a. Hannibal was brought into the French Navy as Annibal serving until being broken up in 1824. b. Also exchanged on parole at this time was Lord Cochrane , who had been captured by Linois's squadron in
11039-684: The class serve in U.K. waters in a sovereignty and fisheries protection role while the five Batch 2 ships are forward-deployed on a long-term basis to Gibraltar, the Caribbean, the Falkland Islands and the Indo-Pacific region. The vessel MV Grampian Frontier is leased from Scottish-based North Star Shipping for patrol duties around the British Indian Ocean Territory . However, she is not in commission with
11172-667: The cross of St Andrew was replaced with the Union Jack. On English ships, the red, white, or blue ensigns had the St George's Cross of England removed from the canton, and the combined crosses of the Union flag put in its place. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Royal Navy was the largest maritime force in the world, maintaining superiority in financing, tactics, training, organisation, social cohesion, hygiene, logistical support and warship design. The peace settlement following
11305-400: The division, she was chased by the 64-gun HMS Agamemnon in the action of 22 October 1793 . Agamemnon broken the engagement when Minerve came to support Melpomène . In the morning of 11 January 1794, off Calvi, Melpomène detected Mignonne being chased by a British ship of the line and two frigates. She closed to support Mignonne , arriving in gun range at 1145. Mignonne broke
11438-713: The early hours on 30 May, the gunboats withdrew. Melpomene was much damaged by her encounter and had to return to England for repairs. Melpomene was sent back to the Baltic where she joined a force conducting a search of the southern edge of the Gulf of Finland . At the beginning of July, she was sent by the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral James Saumarez , to cruise east of Nargen Island with HMS Implacable . They sailed into Narva Bay and there captured nine vessels laden with timber, spars and cordage, belonging to
11571-714: The early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against France . The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the English Navy of the early 16th century; the oldest of the UK's armed services , it is consequently known as the Senior Service . From the 19th century until the Second World War , it was the world's most powerful navy. The Royal Navy played
11704-573: The eastern Pacific Ocean (after the war, the Royal Navy's Bermuda-based North America and West Indies Station was consequently re-designated the America and West Indies station , including a South American division. The rising power and increasing belligerence of the Japanese Empire after World War I, however, resulted in the construction of the Singapore Naval Base , which was completed in 1938, less than four years before hostilities with Japan did commence during World War II . In 1932,
11837-542: The eight gunboats and sink another. All 12 merchant ships were taken and another large armed ship was burned. The British had 17 men killed and 37 wounded during the operation. Five of the dead and six of the wounded were from Melpomene . The Russians lost at least 65 men killed, and 127 taken prisoner, of whom 51 were wounded. The Admiralty later issued a clasp for the Naval General Service Medal for this action. From May to August 1810, Melpomene
11970-532: The end of World War I, the Royal Navy remained by far the world's most powerful navy, larger than the U.S. Navy and French Navy combined, and over twice as large as the Imperial Japanese Navy and Royal Italian Navy combined. Its former primary competitor, the Imperial German Navy, was destroyed at the end of the war . In the inter-war period , the Royal Navy was stripped of much of its power. The Washington and London Naval Treaties imposed
12103-467: The engagement and Melpomène herself escaped by sailing in shallow waters where the British frigates were reluctant to venture. Around 1500, they regrouped around the ship of the line. Melpomène had her lower masts and her foremast tops damaged, and had to be taken in tow to Calvi. In 1794, Melpomène was at Calvi, Corsica , when the entire island was subject to a blockade by a Royal Navy Fleet under Lord Hood . A successful invasion culminated in
12236-462: The evidence, the court ruled that Ferris was making the gallant and well-judged attempt to place her [ Hannibal ] so as to rake the enemy; and, after a considerable part of the ship's company had been killed or wounded, being obliged to strike His Majesty's colours; and that the conduct of Captain Ferris, in going into the action was that of an excellent and expert seaman, and that his conduct after she
12369-458: The first two years of the war. Over 3,000 people were lost when the converted troopship Lancastria was sunk in June 1940, the greatest maritime disaster in Britain's history. The Navy's most critical struggle was the Battle of the Atlantic defending Britain's vital North American commercial supply lines against U-boat attack. A traditional convoy system was instituted from the start of
12502-436: The foreign and defence policies of His Majesty's Government through the exercise of military effect, diplomatic activities and other activities in support of these objectives. It is also a key element of the British contribution to NATO, with a number of ships or aircraft allocated to NATO tasks at any time. In 2007 core capabilities were described as: The English Royal Navy was formally founded in 1546 by Henry VIII , though
12635-474: The governor and ordered him to surrender. The governor agreed, and Hamilton and his force took possession on 5 April. Ferris then took over command of the 74-gun HMS Hannibal and sailed to join the fleet assembling for the Mediterranean under Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez . While off Cádiz , news reached Saumarez that a French squadron under Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois had arrived in
12768-463: The isles though Alexander III was ultimately successful in asserting Scottish control. The Scottish fleet was of particular import in repulsing English forces in the early 14th century. A standing "Navy Royal", with its own secretariat, dockyards and a permanent core of purpose-built warships, emerged during the reign of Henry VIII. Under Elizabeth I , England became involved in a war with Spain , which saw privately owned vessels combining with
12901-544: The narrow channel , but all managed to get off and join their compatriots in line opposite the Dutch, who accepted an offer to surrender and handed over their ships without a shot being fired on either side. In April 1800, Melpomene and HMS Magnanime were off the coast of Senegal when word was received of three French frigates moored under the gun batteries on the island of Gorée . In need of reinforcements, Hamilton had his ship make for Praia, Cape Verde, where he knew
13034-807: The navy to meet its commitments. In December 2019 the First Sea Lord , Admiral Tony Radakin , outlined a proposal to reduce the number of Rear-Admirals at Navy Command by five. The fighting arms (excluding Commandant General Royal Marines ) would be reduced to commodore (1-star) rank and the surface flotillas would be combined. Training would be concentrated under the Fleet Commander . The Royal Navy has two Queen Elizabeth -class aircraft carriers. Each carrier cost £ 3 billion and displaces 65,000 tonnes (64,000 long tons; 72,000 short tons). The first, HMS Queen Elizabeth , commenced flight trials in 2018. Both are intended to operate
13167-501: The outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars, and took command of HMS Inflexible . Ferris spent the next six years in command of her, on a variety of duties. Inflexible had originally been a 64-gun third rate , but by the time Ferris commissioned her, she had been refitted as a storeship for the Downs . She was restored to a 64-gun ship in 1795, and commissioned for service, still under Ferris, for Admiral Adam Duncan's fleet in
13300-409: The quarterdeck, and two 9-pounders with two 32-pounder carronades on the forecastle. The British recorded Melpomene's dimensions as: 148 feet 2 inches (45.2 m) along the gundeck with a keel length of 123 feet 8 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches (37.7 m), a beam of 39 feet 3 inches (12 m) and a depth in the hold of 13 feet 6 inches (4.1 m). She
13433-535: The rank of a full post-captain until the start of the wars with France. He spent most of the war in command of a single ship, on a variety of eclectic services. More active and conventional commands followed, and he was involved in the capture of Gorée in 1801. Returning fresh from this triumph, he was appointed to the command of the 74-gun HMS Hannibal , and sent out with a fleet under Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez to patrol French and Spanish ports. While carrying out this task, Saumarez discovered and attacked
13566-561: The rascals" ; Melpomene eventually joined Admiral Collingwood 's fleet the day after the Battle of Trafalgar and did indeed assist in the aftermath by towing damaged prizes away from the battle site. In December 1805, Peter Parker was appointed as Melpomene's commander, serving in the Mediterranean but returning home at the end of 1807 before leaving for Jamaica in the April following. In November 1807 Melpomene recaptured Duke of Kent , of Dartmouth. A Spanish privateer had captured Duke of Kent . On 11 May 1809, Melpomene chased
13699-482: The said Captain Solomon Ferris, his Officers, and ship's company are hereby honourably acquitted accordingly. The president of the court, Rear-Admiral John Holloway , returned Ferris's sword to him with the observation that "if ever you have occasion to unsheathe it again, it will be used with the same gallantry which you so nobly displayed in defending his Majesty's ship Hannibal." Acquitted of blame, Ferris
13832-688: The scrapping of some capital ships and limitations on new construction. The lack of an imperial fortress in the region of Asia , the Indian Ocean , and the Pacific Ocean was always to be a weakness throughout the 19th century as the former North American colonies that had become the United States of America had multiplied towards the Pacific Coast of North America, and the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire both had ports on
13965-458: The ship off the shoal failed. The British force had suffered considerable damage to sails, masts and rigging, and in the light breeze, Saumarez saw there was the danger that the remainder of his ships might run aground like the Hannibal . At 13:35 he ordered his squadron to withdraw to Gibraltar , leaving the damaged Hannibal behind. Ferris ordered the survivors of his crew below decks to escape
14098-411: The size of the Royal Navy. A 2013 report found that the Royal Navy was already too small, and that Britain would have to depend on her allies if her territories were attacked. The Royal Navy was responsible for training the fledgling Iraqi Navy and securing Iraq's oil terminals following the cessation of hostilities in the country. The Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission (Navy) ( Umm Qasr ), headed by
14231-561: The south-east. After a five-hour chase, Melpomene forced the surrender of the vessel which turned out to be the 18-gun Revanche . The privateer from Brest had been out looking to intercept a convoy from Brazil. The 167 captured crew members were taken to Plymouth . While cruising off the Isle of Wight on 15 May 1797, Melpomene captured Espiègle , a small armed-lugger from Fécamp carrying 32 men. On 17 July, she captured another French privateer, Triton . On 3 August 1798, Melpomene
14364-416: The start of World War II in 1939, the Royal Navy was still the largest in the world, with over 1,400 vessels. The Royal Navy provided critical cover during Operation Dynamo , the British evacuations from Dunkirk , and as the ultimate deterrent to a German invasion of Britain during the following four months. The Luftwaffe under Hermann Göring attempted to gain air supremacy over southern England in
14497-502: The war, but German submarine tactics, based on group attacks by " wolf-packs ", were much more effective than in the previous war, and the threat remained serious for well over three years. After World War II, the decline of the British Empire and the economic hardships in Britain forced the reduction in the size and capability of the Royal Navy. The United States Navy instead took on the role of global naval power. Governments since have faced increasing budgetary pressures, partly due to
14630-436: The wind, which had increased considerably, carried away the topmasts of Caesar , leaving Melpomene and Terrible to forge ahead. At 08:00 the next day, the French squadron was 6 nmi (11 km) away but by noon, Melpomene , some way ahead, had closed the distance to just 2 nmi (3.7 km) miles. Fearing his entire squadron would be captured, Savary ordered his ships to scatter. Hamilton chose to try and intercept
14763-410: The worst of the fire as the combined guns of the French and Spanish forces turned on the last remaining target. He held out until 14:00, when seeing that further resistance would be futile, he ordered the colours struck , and the Hannibal 's ensign came down. French and Spanish soldiers then stormed the ship, and Hannibal 's surgeon later reported that a number of wounded men were trampled to death as
14896-399: Was Melpomene , arrived off Texel on 22 August. With it, were more than 230 other craft, carrying supplies and 27,000 troops. After failing to persuade the Dutch to hand over their ships, the troops were landed near Helder on the morning of 27 August. After an engagement with a Franco-Dutch force, the city was captured. At the same time, a single British frigate, HMS Circe , entered
15029-412: Was 1,013 52 ⁄ 94 tons burthen . In March 1793, Melpomène sailed to Algiers, escorting two xebecs that had undergone refits at Toulon on behalf of Baba Hassan , Dey of Algiers . The next month, she was at Toulon when a mutiny broke out aboard. In October 1793, Melpomène , under Lieutenant Gay, was part of a division also comprising Minerve , Fortunée, and the 18-gun Flèche . Last in
15162-617: Was acquired in 2023 to act as a mothership for autonomous minehunting systems. The Royal Navy also includes a number of smaller non-commissioned assets such as the Sea-class workboats . On 29 July 2022, the Royal Navy christened a new experimental ship, XV Patrick Blackett , which it aims to use as a testbed for autonomous systems. Whilst the ship flies the Blue Ensign , it is crewed by Royal Navy personnel and will participate in Royal Navy and NATO exercises. The Submarine Service
15295-599: Was almost immediately appointed to a new command. He was given the 74-gun HMS Thunderer in September 1801, and commanded her until February 1803, when he left the ship and was superseded by Captain William Bedford . Ferris's new command was the 74-gun HMS Hercule , which he commissioned in February. He took her out to the West Indies, and became senior officer at Port Royal . His time in command
15428-463: Was anchored off Omoe Island when, at around 22:30, the Danes were spotted in the dark. The crew cleared for action and commenced firing at 11:00 but were prevented from bringing their guns to bear in the light wind. Shortly after the action started, the wind increased sufficiently to cut Melpomene ' s cable and manoeuvre. For several days she attempted to close with the enemy with little success. In
15561-562: Was appointed to in March 1791, was the 14-gun HMS Vulcan . His command was short lived, and he paid her off in September that year. This was followed with his transferral to the 16-gun HMS Scorpion in October 1792, and his sailing for the African coast in November that year. After a period in command of the Scorpion , Ferris was promoted to post captain on 14 October 1793, after
15694-592: Was contrary to widespread prewar expectations that in the event of a Continental conflict Britain would primarily provide naval support to the Entente Powers while sending at most only a small ground army. Nevertheless, the Royal Navy played an important role in securing the British Isles and the English Channel , notably ferrying the entire British Expeditionary Force to the Western Front at
15827-417: Was cruising off the north coast of Brittany with HMS Childers when a French brig, Adventurier , and accompanying merchant ships were discovered in the bay of Corréjou. The British decided to attempt a cutting out expedition under cover of darkness and a boarding party from both crews was assembled. At 22:00 that night, in stormy conditions, five boats, carrying 70 men, began a five-hour row towards
15960-466: Was engaged, was that of a brave, cool, and determined Officer; and that the said Captain Ferris, his Officers, and ship's company, by their conduct throughout the action, more particularly for continuing it for a considerable time after she was on shore, and the rest of His Majesty's fleet had been obliged to quit her, did the utmost for the preservation of his Majesty's ship and the honour the British flag; and doth adjudge them to be honourably acquitted, and
16093-521: Was forced to surrender his ship. A court-martial soon acquitted Ferris of any blame, and he was quickly given other commands. He went out to the West Indies as senior officer at Port Royal , but was struck with a sudden illness and died aboard his command. He was most remembered for his defence of the Hannibal , for which he was praised in many of his obituaries. He appears in Patrick O'Brian 's nautical historical novel Master and Commander , where he
16226-623: Was now in question. The Royal Navy clearance diving unit, the Fleet Diving Squadron, was reorganised and renamed the Diving and Threat Exploitation Group in 2022. The group consists of five squadrons: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Echo. The Royal Navy has a separate unit with divers the special forces unit the Special Boat Service . The escort fleet comprises guided missile destroyers and frigates and
16359-461: Was officially recognised as a British vessel on 30 March 1795 when she was registered by the Admiralty , and was commissioned the following month by Sir Charles Hamilton . She worked to contain privateering and protect British trade in the English Channel . At 15:00 on 11 July 1796, Melpomene was 18 nautical miles (33 kilometres ) to the south-southwest of Ushant , when a sail was seen to
16492-419: Was ordered in 1787 and construction started February the following year. Launched on 6 August 1789, she was completed in April 1792 and armed with twenty-eight 18-pounder (8.2 kg) long guns on the gundeck and ten 8 pounders (3.6 kg) on her upperworks. After her capture, her secondary armament was upgraded so she carried eight 9-pounder (4.1 kg) long guns and six 32-pounder (15 kg) carronades on
16625-410: Was recommissioned in March under Robert Dudley Oliver and operated off the French coast and in the North Sea . In July 1804, Melpomene took part in an attack on the port of Le Havre . Le Havre was important at the time, harbouring a large number of vessels required by Napoleon's invasion force at Boulogne . Oliver's squadron, comprising Melpomene , sloops, bomb-vessels and other small craft,
16758-422: Was sent to escort the survivors back to France. Having failed to find any, Savary was returning to France when, on 28 October at 07:00, his squadron was seen off Benwee Head by Melpomene , HMS Terrible , and the flagship of commodore Sir Richard Bickerton , HMS Caesar . The three ships immediately gave chase but due to light winds, it was 18:00 before any ships were close enough to exchange shots. By 23:00,
16891-455: Was short-lived, he was taken ill suddenly in May 1803, and died after two days. Most remembered for his command of Hannibal during the First Battle of Algeciras, this was mentioned in most of his obituaries. Ferris also appears as a minor character in the first of the Aubrey–Maturin series of nautical historical novels by Patrick O'Brian , Master and Commander . He is shown meeting
17024-668: Was sold to the Royal Australian Navy in 2011. In November 2006, the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band described the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels as "a major uplift in the Royal Navy's war fighting capability". In February 2023, a commercial vessel was also acquired to act as a Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) Ship for the protection of critical seabed infrastructure and other tasks. She entered service as RFA Proteus . An additional vessel, RFA Stirling Castle ,
17157-581: Was stationed off the port to prevent any enemy joining, or those inside, escaping. On 23 July, the British fired on the town, setting it alight and forcing the French to move their ships further upriver. Another attack was made on 1 August resulting in a very similar outcome. Melpomene was at Portsmouth in September 1805. While she was there, Oliver met with Lord Nelson , who was about to leave to resume command off Cadiz. Oliver told of his disappointment that he and his ship were not going too, to which Nelson replied, "I hope you will come in time to tow some of
17290-425: Was still holding out on Hannibal and requesting either support to salvage his battered ship or for her to be evacuated before surrendering. Boats were sent from Gibraltar with carpenters from the dockyards there to effect repairs on Hannibal and Dundas took HMS Calpe back into the bay to provide assistance, coming under heavy fire before withdrawing when his error was realised, although not before several of
17423-406: Was thwarted by the defeat of their escort fleet in the extraordinary Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759, fought in dangerous conditions. In 1762, the resumption of hostilities with Spain led to the British capture of Manila and of Havana , along with a Spanish fleet sheltering there. British naval supremacy could however be challenged still in this period by coalitions of other nations, as seen in
17556-653: Was to search for and destroy Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic, and to operate the nuclear deterrent submarine force. The navy received its first nuclear weapons with the introduction of the first of the Resolution -class submarines armed with the Polaris missile . Following the conclusion of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the Royal Navy began to experience
17689-407: Was vulnerable to shore-based fire. Under heavy fire now, and isolated from the rest of the British line, Ferris was unable to manoeuvre away, or into a better position to return fire. His signal halyards had been torn away by shot, and some time passed before he was able to notify Saumarez of his predicament. Saumarez ordered the squadron to send their ship's boats to tow Hannibal off the shoal, but
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