HMS Belle Poule (1806)
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Belle Poule |
| Laid down | 1801 |
| Launched | 18 April 1802 |
| Captured | By Royal Navy, 13 March 1806 |
| History | |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Belle Poule |
| Launched | 1802 |
| Acquired | Captured on 13 March 1806 |
| Reclassified | list error: <br /> list (help) Troopship in 1814 Prison ship in 1815 |
| Fate | Sold on 11 June 1816 |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | 36-gun fifth rate frigate |
| Tons burthen | 1,076 long tons (1,093.3 t) |
| Length | 127 ft 8 in (38.9 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 39 ft 11 in (12.2 m) |
| Draught | 13 ft 4 in (4.1 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full rigged ship |
| Complement | 284 (later 315) |
| Armament | list error: mixed text and list (help) 40 guns (re-rated at 38 guns after capture): Upper deck:
Quarter deck:
Forecastle
|
HMS Belle Poule was a 40-gun Royal Navy fifth rate frigate, formerly Belle Poule of the French Navy and was built from plans by Jacques-Noël Sané and Borda. She was launched on 18 April 1802, but captured in 1806 by a squadron under Sir John Borlase Warren and commissioned into the Royal Navy.
French Navy service
In March 1803, she was incorporated to the fleet of Rear-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois, whose mission was to re-take the colonies of the Indian Ocean, given to English at the peace of Amiens. The fleet included the 74-gun ship of the line Marengo, the frigates Atalante, Belle Poule and Sémillante, troop ships and cargoes with food and ammunition.
At the beginning of November, the division set sail for Batavia to protect the Dutch colonies. En route, Linois destroyed the English counters in Bencoolen, capturing five ships, and sailed for the South China Sea, where the China Fleet of the British East India Company was expected. The fleets met in the Battle of Pulo Aura, but the greater numbers and aggressive action of the British East Indiamen, some of whom flew Royal Navy flags, drove the French away. Linois returned to Batavia and Atalante and Belle Poule were dispatched in the Gulf of Bengal; Belle Poule captured a few ships before returning to the Ile de France (now known as Mauritius).
In 1805 and 1806, Belle Poule and some other ships of the division cruised the African coasts between the Red Sea and the Cape of Good Hope, capturing some ships. On 13 March 1806, Linois met with the division of Vice-Admiral Sir John Warren, with seven ships of the line (including the 108-gun London, the 82-gun Ramilles and Repulse, and the 80-gun Foudroyant), 2 frigates (including the 48-gun Amazone) and one corvette. After a fierce duel with London, Marengo struck her colours; Belle Poule battled against Amazone and later against Ramilles, and had to surrender as well.
Royal Navy service
She entered service under the same name in 1808 under captain James Brisbane, joining the forces operating in the Adriatic campaign of 1807-1814 off Corfu, successfully blockading the island. In February 1809 Brisbane captured the French frigate Var in a raid on the harbour at Valona and in September of the same year was involved in the invasions of Cephalonia, Zante and Santa Maura.
In May 1811, Belle Poule participated in a raid at Parenza that captured a brig, before returning to Britain to join the Channel Fleet. During 1812 Brisbane patrolled the Western Approaches, capturing numerous American privateers. In September 1812 Brisbane was replaced by George Harris, who captured three large and valuable American privateers over the next year.
In 1814, following a request from the Duke of Wellington, Belle Poule was used as a troopship in a raid on the Gironde in Southern France. She continued in this role for the next year under Captain Francis Baker, before being converted to a prison hulk in 1815 and was sold on 11 June 1816.
References
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- Lyon, David and Winfield, Rif, The Sail and Steam Navy List, All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815-1889, pub Chatham, 2004, ISBN 1-86176-032-9
- Ships of the Old Navy