HMS Saint Fermin (1780)
Encyclopedia
San Fermín was a 16-gun private ship of war corvette
of the Gipuzkoan Trading Company of Caracas. She was launched in 1779 but the British Royal Navy
captured her at the Action of 8 January 1780
. The Spanish recaptured her in 1781.
sent to Britain under the escort of the captured 64-gun ship Guipuzcoano
the vessels of the convoy that he had captured on 8 June that were carrying commercial goods. He took with him for the relief of Gibraltar those vessels that carried naval supplies, together with the two smaller captured escorts, Saint Fermin and San Vicente. The British commissioned Saint Fermin in Gibraltar as the 16-gun sloop of war HMS Saint Fermin, under Commander Jonathan Faulknor.
Despite Rodney's delivery of supplies and reinforcements Spain's siege of Gibraltar continued. At 1am on 7 June the Spanish launched an attack by seven fireships on Gibraltar. Boats from Saint Fermin helped tow some of these to where they could do no harm. By the firelight the British observed that some Spanish warships were waiting outside to intercept any British vessels that might try to escape. None did and the attack failed completely.
On 19 October Saint Fermin exchanged shots with some Spanish gunboats. Saint Fermin was not harmed.
with dispatches, together with the tender to , and a settee. At the time, the British maintained contact with the British forces there, at least until 1782 when that island fell, by sending small, fast-sailing ships to run the blockade.
When Saint Fermin left, two Spanish xebec
s immediately set out in pursuit. That evening Faulknor saw two vessels approaching and made every effort to escape. Moonlight revealed them to be two xebecs, and that they were gaining. Even after the moon set the chase continued with the Spaniards sporadically firing their chase gun
s and Saint Fermin replying with her stern guns. Just before dawn the two xebecs came within gunshot range, stationed themselves on their quarry's quarters, and one prepared to fire a broadside.
Out numbered and outgunned, Faulknor surrendered off Gibraltar. The two xebecs were the San Antonio, of 26 guns, and the San Luis, of 22 guns. They then took her into Cartagena, Spain
. From there the Spanish brought her into their naval service as the 16-gun San Fermín.
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...
of the Gipuzkoan Trading Company of Caracas. She was launched in 1779 but the British Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
captured her at the Action of 8 January 1780
Action of 8 January 1780
The Action of 8 January 1780 was a naval encounter off Cape Finisterre between a British Royal Naval fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney, and a fleet of Spanish merchants sailing in convoy with seven warships of the Caracas Company, under the command of Commodore Don Juan Augustin de Yardi....
. The Spanish recaptured her in 1781.
British service
At the time of her capture she was under the command of Captain J. Vin. Eloy Sanchez. Admiral RodneyGeorge 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...
sent to Britain under the escort of the captured 64-gun ship Guipuzcoano
HMS Prince William (1780)
HMS Prince William was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She had previously been the Guipuzcoano, an armed merchantmen of the Spanish Compañía Guipuzcoana de Caracas....
the vessels of the convoy that he had captured on 8 June that were carrying commercial goods. He took with him for the relief of Gibraltar those vessels that carried naval supplies, together with the two smaller captured escorts, Saint Fermin and San Vicente. The British commissioned Saint Fermin in Gibraltar as the 16-gun sloop of war HMS Saint Fermin, under Commander Jonathan Faulknor.
Despite Rodney's delivery of supplies and reinforcements Spain's siege of Gibraltar continued. At 1am on 7 June the Spanish launched an attack by seven fireships on Gibraltar. Boats from Saint Fermin helped tow some of these to where they could do no harm. By the firelight the British observed that some Spanish warships were waiting outside to intercept any British vessels that might try to escape. None did and the attack failed completely.
On 19 October Saint Fermin exchanged shots with some Spanish gunboats. Saint Fermin was not harmed.
Fate
On 3 April 1781 Saint Fermin sailed for MinorcaMinorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
with dispatches, together with the tender to , and a settee. At the time, the British maintained contact with the British forces there, at least until 1782 when that island fell, by sending small, fast-sailing ships to run the blockade.
When Saint Fermin left, two Spanish xebec
Xebec
A xebec , also spelled zebec, was a Mediterranean sailing ship that was used mostly for trading. It would have a long overhanging bowsprit and protruding mizzen mast...
s immediately set out in pursuit. That evening Faulknor saw two vessels approaching and made every effort to escape. Moonlight revealed them to be two xebecs, and that they were gaining. Even after the moon set the chase continued with the Spaniards sporadically firing their chase gun
Chase gun
The chase guns, usually distinguished as bow chasers and stern chasers were cannons mounted in the bow or stern of a sailing ship...
s and Saint Fermin replying with her stern guns. Just before dawn the two xebecs came within gunshot range, stationed themselves on their quarry's quarters, and one prepared to fire a broadside.
Out numbered and outgunned, Faulknor surrendered off Gibraltar. The two xebecs were the San Antonio, of 26 guns, and the San Luis, of 22 guns. They then took her into Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
. From there the Spanish brought her into their naval service as the 16-gun San Fermín.