Battle of the Mona Passage
Encyclopedia
The Battle of the Mona Passage was a naval engagement on 19 April 1782 between a British fleet under Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood
, and a small French fleet. It took place in the Mona Passage
, a strait
separating Hispaniola
and Puerto Rico
, shortly after the British victory at the Battle of the Saintes
. The British overtook and captured four ships, two of which were 64-gun ships of the line.
Between 9 April 1782 and 12 April 1782 a British fleet under Admiral George Brydges Rodney
engaged and defeated a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse
at the battle of the Saintes
, thus frustrating French plans for an invasion of Jamaica
. Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood fought under Rodney during the battle, and was deeply critical of his commander for not pushing home his victory against the retreating enemy fleet. The British fleet made its way to Jamaica, from where Rodney ordered Hood to seek out any disabled or damaged French ships that had escaped the battle. Hood's division of thirteen ships set out towards toward San Domingo, and while travelling through the Mona Passage, came across a number of French ships which had become separated before the battle of the Saintes and were on their way to Cap-Français.
, the frigates Aimable and Astrée, and the 18-gun corvette
Ceres. The faster copper-sheathed
British ships soon caught up with the French ships, and managed to cut off and surround them. captured both Jason and Caton at the cost of four men killed and six wounded, whilst captured the Aimable at the cost of four killed and eight wounded. The Astrée however managed to escape with minimal damage.
hospital ship
and moored off Saltash
in Cornwall
. She continued in this role well into the Napoleonic Wars
. Aimable was renamed HMS Aimable and served in the Royal Navy until 1811.
, Capt. John Knight
(74) - Capt. Thomas Dumaresq
(64) - Capt. A. Sutherland
(74) - Capt. Robert Linzee
(74) - Capt. F. Reynolds
(74) - Capt. George Bowen
(64) - Capt. G. Wilkinson
(74) - Capt. Samuel Goodall
(74) - Capt. James Wallace
(60)
(24)
(12) - Fire ship
Jason
(64) - Captured
Astrée (36) - Escaped
Aimable (32) - Captured
Ceres (18) - Captured
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood was a British Admiral known particularly for his service in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars...
, and a small French fleet. It took place in the Mona Passage
Mona Passage
The Mona Passage is a strait that separates the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The Mona Passage connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, and is an important shipping route between the Atlantic and the Panama Canal....
, a strait
Strait
A strait or straits is a narrow, typically navigable channel of water that connects two larger, navigable bodies of water. It most commonly refers to a channel of water that lies between two land masses, but it may also refer to a navigable channel through a body of water that is otherwise not...
separating Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, shortly after the British victory at the Battle of the Saintes
Battle of the Saintes
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
. The British overtook and captured four ships, two of which were 64-gun ships of the line.
Background
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
engaged and defeated a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse
François Joseph Paul de Grasse
Lieutenant Général des Armées Navales François-Joseph Paul, marquis de Grasse Tilly, comte de Grasse was a French admiral. He is best known for his command of the French fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake, which led directly to the British surrender at Yorktown...
at the battle of the Saintes
Battle of the Saintes
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
, thus frustrating French plans for an invasion of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood fought under Rodney during the battle, and was deeply critical of his commander for not pushing home his victory against the retreating enemy fleet. The British fleet made its way to Jamaica, from where Rodney ordered Hood to seek out any disabled or damaged French ships that had escaped the battle. Hood's division of thirteen ships set out towards toward San Domingo, and while travelling through the Mona Passage, came across a number of French ships which had become separated before the battle of the Saintes and were on their way to Cap-Français.
Battle
Hood chased down the French ships, which turned out to be the 64-gun ships and JasonHMS Argonaut (1782)
The 64-gun Jason was a ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1779.The Royal Navy captured Jason on 19 April 1782 at the Battle of the Mona Passage...
, the frigates Aimable and Astrée, and the 18-gun corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
Ceres. The faster copper-sheathed
Copper sheathing
Copper sheathing was the practice of protecting the under-water hull of a ship or boat through the use of copper plates affixed to the outside of the hull. It was pioneered and developed by the Royal Navy during the 18th century.-Development:...
British ships soon caught up with the French ships, and managed to cut off and surround them. captured both Jason and Caton at the cost of four men killed and six wounded, whilst captured the Aimable at the cost of four killed and eight wounded. The Astrée however managed to escape with minimal damage.
Aftermath
The captured French ships were taken back to England for further use. Jason was renamed , while Caton was used as a prisoner of warPrisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
and moored off Saltash
Saltash
Saltash is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a population of 14,964. It lies in the south east of Cornwall, facing Plymouth over the River Tamar. It was in the Caradon district until March 2009 and is known as "the gateway to Cornwall". Saltash means ash tree by...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. She continued in this role well into the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. Aimable was renamed HMS Aimable and served in the Royal Navy until 1811.
Britain
(98) - Flagship of Sir Samuel HoodSamuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood was a British Admiral known particularly for his service in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars...
, Capt. John Knight
John Knight (Royal Navy officer)
Sir John Knight, KCB was a senior British Royal Navy officer during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries most noted for his activities as a post captain during the American and French Revolutionary Wars...
(74) - Capt. Thomas Dumaresq
(64) - Capt. A. Sutherland
(74) - Capt. Robert Linzee
Robert Linzee
Robert Linzee was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary War, and the Napoleonic War....
(74) - Capt. F. Reynolds
Francis Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Baron Ducie
Francis Reynolds-Moreton, 3rd Baron Ducie was a British politician and naval officer.He served in the Royal Navy, being commissioned lieutenant with a date of seniority of 12 April 1762. By the outbreak of the American War of Independence he had been promoted Captain and was stationed in the West...
(74) - Capt. George Bowen
(64) - Capt. G. Wilkinson
(74) - Capt. Samuel Goodall
Samuel Goodall
Samuel Granston Goodall was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars in a career that spanned 50 years, rising to the rank of Admiral of the White.Goodall rose from obscure origins to the rank of...
(74) - Capt. James Wallace
(60)
(24)
(12) - Fire ship
France
Caton (64) - Capt. De Framand - CapturedJason
HMS Argonaut (1782)
The 64-gun Jason was a ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1779.The Royal Navy captured Jason on 19 April 1782 at the Battle of the Mona Passage...
(64) - Captured
Astrée (36) - Escaped
Aimable (32) - Captured
Ceres (18) - Captured