USS Bonhomme Richard (1765)

USS Bonhomme Richard (1765)

The first USS "Bonhomme Richard", formerly "Duc de Duras", was a frigate in the Continental Navy. She was originally an East Indiaman, a merchant ship built in France for the French East India Company in 1765, for service between France and the Orient. She was placed at the disposal of John Paul Jones on February 4, 1779, by King Louis XVI of France as a result of a loan to the United States by French shipping magnate, Jacques-Donatien Le Ray.

Jones renamed her "Bon Homme Richard"- usually rendered in more correct French as "Bonhomme Richard", to honor Benjamin Franklin, the American Commissioner at Paris whose almanac, "Poor Richard's Almanac" had been published in France under the title "Les Maximes du Bonhomme Richard".

On June 19, 1779, "Bonhomme Richard" sailed from Lorient accompanied by "Alliance", "Pallas", "Vengeance", and "Cerf" with troop transports and merchant vessels under convoy to Bordeaux and to cruise against the British in the Bay of Biscay. Forced to return to port for repair, the squadron sailed again August 14, 1779. Going northwest around the west coast of the British Isles into the North Sea and then down the east coast the squadron took 16 merchant vessels as prizes.

On September 23, 1779, they encountered the Baltic Fleet of 41 sail under convoy of HMS "Serapis" (44) and "Countess of Scarborough" (22) near Flamborough Head. After 18:00 "Bonhomme Richard" engaged "Serapis" and a bitter engagement, the Battle of Flamborough Head, ensued during the next four hours that cost the lives of nearly half the American and British crews. At first, a British victory seemed inevitable as the more heavily armed "Serapis" used its superior firepower to rake "Bonhomme Richard" with devastating effect, killing Americans by the score. However, Jones eventually succeeded in lashing the two ships together, nullifying his opponent's greater maneuverability. An attempt by the Americans to board "Serapis" was repulsed, as was an attempt by the British to board "Bonhomme Richard". Finally, after another of Jones's squadron joined in the fight (uncaringly causing serious collateral damage aboard the "Richard") the British captain surrendered at about 10.30pm. "Bonhomme Richard", shattered, on fire, and leaking badly defied all efforts to save her and sank at 11:00 on September 25, 1779. John Paul Jones sailed the captured "Serapis" to the United Provinces for repairs.

Though "Bonhomme Richard" sank subsequent to the battle, the outcome of the battle convinced the French crown of the wisdom of backing the colonies in their fight to separate from British authority. The defeat of "Serapis", no less in home waters, stung the British admiralty.

"Bonhomme Richard's" final resting location is the subject of much speculation. A number of efforts have been conducted to locate the wreck. As of 2005, these efforts have been unsuccessful. The location of the wreck is presumed to be Flamborough Head in Yorkshire, a headland near where her final battle took place in approximately 180 feet of water. The number of other wrecks in the area and a century of fishing trawling operations have complicated all searches.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b8/bonhomme_richard-i.htm

External links

* [http://modelshipbuilder.com/models/model-ship-builder-pierre-and-jacques-mailliere.html Detailed Plank on Frame wooden model of the Bonhomme Richard]
* [http://modelshipbuilder.com/articles/bonhomme-richard.html Search for the Bonhomme Richard] Clive Cussler recounts his elusive search for the Bonhomme Richard.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • USS Bonhomme Richard (1765) — USS Bonhomme Richard Geschichte Stapellauf 1766 Indienststellung 4. Februar 1779 (US Navy) Außerdienststellung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • USS Bonhomme Richard (1765) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Bonhomme Richard. Bonhomme Richard Le Bonhomme Richard, anciennement connu comme le Duc de Duras, était une frégate de la Continental Navy, la marine constituée lors de la révolution américaine …   Wikipédia en Français

  • USS Bonhomme Richard — oder USS Bon Homme Richard ist ein traditioneller Schiffsname der US amerikanischen Marine, der bisher dreimal vergeben wurde. Der Name des ersten Schiffes wurde zu Ehren von Benjamin Franklin gewählt, der damals von Frankreich aus, als US… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • USS Bonhomme Richard — Five ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Bonhomme Richard or Bon Homme Richard (pronounced bun uhm ree SHAR ), the French language equivalent of Goodman Richard .* The USS|Bonhomme Richard|1765, formerly Duc de Duras , was a… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Bonhomme Richard — Cinq navires de l United States Navy ont été nommé Bonhomme Richard ou Bon Homme Richard: L USS Bonhomme Richard (1765), anciennement Duc de Duras, une frégate construite en France et placée à la disposition de John Paul Jones en 1779.… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) — Die Bonhomme Richard auf See Geschichte Bestellung 11. Dezember 1992 Kiellegung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • USS Bon Homme Richard — USS Bonhomme Richard oder USS Bon Homme Richard ist ein traditioneller Schiffsname der US amerikanischen Marine, der bisher drei Mal vergeben wurde. Der Name des ersten Schiffes wurde zu Ehren von Benjamin Franklin gewählt, der damals von… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) — For other ships of the same name, see USS John Paul Jones. USS John Paul Jones in the Persian Gulf Career (US) …   Wikipedia

  • USS Ranger (1777) — The first USS Ranger was a sloop of war in the Continental Navy and received the first government sanctioned salute to an American fighting vessel by a foreign power. Ranger , initially called Hampshire , was launched 10 May 1777 by James K.… …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der Schiffe der United States Navy/B — Schiffe der United States Navy A B C …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”