Spanish shipSan Antonio(1785)
| History | |
|---|---|
  Spain | |
| Name | San Antonio |
| Builder | Cartagena shipyard |
| Launched | 16 July 1785 |
| Honours and awards | |
| Fate | Sold to France, 21 May 1801 |
 France | |
| Name | Saint Antoine |
| Acquired | 21 May 1801 |
| Honours and awards | Second Battle of Algeciras |
| Captured | by Britain, 13 July 1801 |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMSSan Antonio |
| Acquired | 13 July 1801 |
| Out of service | September 1814 |
| Fate | Sold 1828 |
| General characteristics in British service | |
| Class and type | Third-rateship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1,700 |
| Length | 53.3 m (175 ft) |
| Beam | 14.6 m (48 ft) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 590 |
| Armament |
|
San Antoniowas a 74-gun, two-decked,third-rateship of the linebuilt for theSpanish Navyand launched inCartagenain 1785. She was present under Captain Salvador Medina at theBattle of Cape St Vincent in 1797.In August 1800 theSan Antoniowas atFerrolduring theRoyal Navy'sFerrol Expeditionfailed attempt to take the town.
French service
[edit]
By the terms of theThird Treaty of San Ildefonsoof October 1800, Spain agreed to supply France with "six ships of war in good condition built for seventy-four guns, armed and equipped and ready to receive French crews and supplies". TheSan Antoniowas handed over in May 1801 to become the French shipSaint Antoineunder Commodore Julien Le Ray, though some Spanish seamen remained aboard. Taking part in theSecond Battle of Algecirasduring the night of 12–13 July 1801, she was pursued byHMSSuperb,Captain Keats,the combined French and Spanish crew engaging the British vessel as it approached.[1]At 23:50 on the 12th, Keats laid his ship close alongside the new French ship, beginning a close and heated action as the ships of the line exchanged broadsides with one another in pitch darkness and with an increasing wind.[2]For thirty minutes the battle continued until, with the ships offCape Spartelin North Africa, a wounded Le Ray decided that his ship was no longer able to contest the action and hailedSuperbto announce that he had surrendered. The halyards that held up his pennant had however become tangled in the rigging, giving the appearance that the ship was still in French hands: this later ledSaint Antoineto be attacked repeatedly by other British ships as they came up during the night.[3]Keats remained with his prize, awaiting the arrival of the rest of the squadron:Caesar,Venerable,SpencerandThamesarrived after midnight, all firing onSaint Antoineas they passed before continuing westwards in search of other enemy vessels.
British service
[edit]Saint Antoinewas commissioned by the Royal Navy in 1801 as theSan Antonioand sailed underCaptain Dundas[4]to Portsmouth. There she was laid up for repairs and eventually commissioned as aPrison shipin October 1807, and later as a powder magazine from May to September 1814. She was sold in 1828.
References
[edit]- ^"No. 15392".The London Gazette.3 August 1801. pp. 945–946.
- ^Clowes, p. 467
- ^James, p. 127
- ^Naval Chronicle,vol. 6, p. 346
Bibliography
[edit]- Clowes, William Laird(1997) [1900].The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume IV.London: Chatham Publishing.ISBN1-86176-013-2.
- James, William(2002) [1827].The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 3, 1800–1805.London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN0-85177-907-7.
- Winfield, Rif (2008).British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates.Seaforth Publishing.ISBN978-1-86176-246-7.