PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Action of 18 November 1809
rdfs:comment
  • Despite spirited resistance from the largest British merchant ship, Windham, the failure of the other Indiamen to support their leader and the size and power of the French ships forced the British to withdraw: all the HEIC ships were subsequently captured by the larger, faster French warships. A month later, Hamelin's raiding campaign skirted disaster when a winter hurricane on the voyage back to Île de France almost wrecked his flagship Vénus. Vénus only survived with the co-operation of the British prisoners aboard, who brought the ship safely to port. Only two of the captured Indiamen were successfully brought to Ile de France: the same storm that nearly destroyed Vénus scattered the squadron and its prizes, allowing a patrolling British frigate to recapture Windham just a few miles fro
owl:sameAs
Strength
  • East Indiamen Windham, United Kingdom and Charlton
  • frigates Vénus and Manche, brig Créole
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
Partof
  • the Napoleonic Wars
Date
  • 1809-11-18
Commander
Caption
  • --11-18
Casualties
  • 4
  • No casualties recorded
Result
  • French victory
combatant
  • 22
Place
  • Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean
Conflict
  • --11-18
abstract
  • Despite spirited resistance from the largest British merchant ship, Windham, the failure of the other Indiamen to support their leader and the size and power of the French ships forced the British to withdraw: all the HEIC ships were subsequently captured by the larger, faster French warships. A month later, Hamelin's raiding campaign skirted disaster when a winter hurricane on the voyage back to Île de France almost wrecked his flagship Vénus. Vénus only survived with the co-operation of the British prisoners aboard, who brought the ship safely to port. Only two of the captured Indiamen were successfully brought to Ile de France: the same storm that nearly destroyed Vénus scattered the squadron and its prizes, allowing a patrolling British frigate to recapture Windham just a few miles from the French island.