Capture of the Frederikscoarn, 16th August 1807

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Capture of the Frederikscoarn

16th August 1807
Part of : The Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815)
Previous action : Second Battle of Copenhagen 15.8.1807 - 7.9.1807
Next action : Action of 1807-08-23 23.8.1807
 

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Comus (22) 1806-1816
British 22 Gun
6th Rate Post Ship
Edmund HeywoodBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1797-1813
 1 wounded
 

Denmark

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Frederichswaern (32) 1784-1807
Danish 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
  Captured 12 killed, 20 wounded
 

Notes on Action


DescriptionTRN5
On the night of August 12th, the Frederikscoarn, 32, perceiving what was likely to happen, slipped her cable, and left Helsingor road, making for Norway. On the following day Admiral Gambier sent after her the Defence, 74, Captain Charles Ekins, and Comus, 22, Captain Edmund Heywood, with orders to detain the fugitive. As the wind was light, Ekins subsequently directed Heywood to proceed ahead and execute the service singlehanded. Early on the 14th, the Comus descried the chase, and, in the course of the day, steadily overhauled her, until, at about midnight, she ran alongside the enemy. Heywood requested the Danish captain to bring to, and suffer his ship to be detained; but a refusal was, of course, returned; and there ensued a close action, the Comus first taking up a raking position, and then being fallen on board of by her disabled opponent. After about forty-five minutes' cannonade, the Dane was boarded by a party under Lieutenants George Edward Watts and Hood Knight, and carried without further resistance. The British lost only one man wounded. The Frederikscoarn, besides suffering very severely in hull and rigging, had twelve killed and twenty wounded. The capture was a most creditable one; for, although the Comus actually carried, in addition to her twenty-two long 9-prs. on the maindeck, two more long 9-prs. and eight 24-pr. carronades on her quarter-deck and forecastle, the Frederikscoarn also exceeded her rated force, carrying at least thirty-six guns; and she had, moreover, 12-prs. on her main-deck. The complement of the Danish ship was 226; that of the British one, only 145.
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