HMS Monarch in the lead, with Elephant close behind forcing the Passage of the Sound, 30 March 1801, prior to the Battle of Copenhagen
In late November 1790 the ship narrowly avoided destruction when lightning struck her whilst she was in Portsmouth harbour. The main topmast exploded but did not plunge through the quarterdeck as it was still held by the toprope.
In 1801 Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson chose Elephant as his flagship during the Battle of Copenhagen due to its suitability for the shallow waters there. It was on this ship that he is said to have put his telescope to his blind eye and claimed not to be able to see a signal ordering him to withdraw.[citation needed] She lost 9 killed and 13 wounded then.[2]
In mid-1803, the squadron under Captain Henry William Bayntun, consisting of Cumberland, Hercule, Bellerophon, Elephant, and Vanguard captured Poisson Volant and Superieure.[3] The Royal Navy took both into service. The ship participated in the Blockade of Saint-Domingue in the same year. The British patrolled off Cap-François. On 24 July the squadron, made up of Bellerophon, Elephant, HMS Theseus, and HMS Vanguard, came across two French 74-gun ships, Duquesne and Duguay-Trouin, and the frigate Guerrière, attempting to escape from Cap-François.[4] The squadron gave chase, and on 25 July overhauled and captured Duquesne after a few shots were fired, while Duguay-Trouin and Guerrière managed to evade their pursuers and escape to France.[5] One man was killed aboard Bellerophon during the pursuit.[4]Elephant remained blockading Cap-François until November, when the French commander of the garrison there, General Rochambeau, was forced to surrender.
To prevent Rochambeau escaping, launches from Bellerophon and Elephant went into the Caracol Passage where they cut out the French schooner Découverte on 22–23 November. The French formally surrendered on 30 November.
HMS Elephant, under the command of Francis Austen, captured the United States privateer Swordfish in December 1812 during the War of 1812.[6]
^Gerlach, Krzysztof (2006). "Słoń a sprawa duńska" [The elephant and a matter of Denmark]. Morze, Statki i Okręty. Vol. X, no. 4/2006 (58). Warsaw. p. 73.
Cordingly, David (2004). Billy Ruffian: The Bellerophon and the Downfall of Napoleon: The Biography of A Ship of the Line, 1782–1836. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN0-7475-6544-9.
Goodwin, Peter (2005). The Ships of Trafalgar: The British, French and Spanish Fleets October 1805. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN1-84486-015-9.
Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995. Pen & Sword. ISBN0-85052-835-6.
Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-252-8.
External links
Media related to HMS Elephant (ship, 1786) at Wikimedia Commons
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elephant, 1786, other, ships, with, same, name, elephant, elephant, third, rate, ship, line, royal, navy, built, george, parsons, bursledon, hampshire, launched, august, 1786, drawing, showing, inboard, profile, elephant, down, ship, 1817, 1818historygreat, br. For other ships with the same name see HMS Elephant HMS Elephant was a 74 gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy She was built by George Parsons in Bursledon Hampshire and launched on 24 August 1786 1 Drawing showing the inboard profile for Elephant as cut down to a 58 gun ship 1817 1818HistoryGreat BritainNameHMS ElephantOrdered27 December 1781BuilderGeorge Parsons BursledonLaid downFebruary 1783Launched24 August 1786Honours andawardsParticipated in Battle of Copenhagen 1801 FateBroken up 1830General characteristics 1 Class and typeArrogant class ship of the lineTons burthen1604 bmLength168 ft 51 m gundeck Beam46 ft 9 in 14 25 m Depth of hold19 ft 9 in 6 02 m PropulsionSailsSail planFull rigged shipArmamentGundeck 28 32 pounder guns Upper gundeck 28 18 pounder guns QD 14 9 pounder guns Fc 4 9 pounder gunsHMS Monarch in the lead with Elephant close behind forcing the Passage of the Sound 30 March 1801 prior to the Battle of Copenhagen In late November 1790 the ship narrowly avoided destruction when lightning struck her whilst she was in Portsmouth harbour The main topmast exploded but did not plunge through the quarterdeck as it was still held by the toprope In 1801 Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson chose Elephant as his flagship during the Battle of Copenhagen due to its suitability for the shallow waters there It was on this ship that he is said to have put his telescope to his blind eye and claimed not to be able to see a signal ordering him to withdraw citation needed She lost 9 killed and 13 wounded then 2 In mid 1803 the squadron under Captain Henry William Bayntun consisting of Cumberland Hercule Bellerophon Elephant and Vanguard captured Poisson Volant and Superieure 3 The Royal Navy took both into service The ship participated in the Blockade of Saint Domingue in the same year The British patrolled off Cap Francois On 24 July the squadron made up of Bellerophon Elephant HMS Theseus and HMS Vanguard came across two French 74 gun ships Duquesne and Duguay Trouin and the frigate Guerriere attempting to escape from Cap Francois 4 The squadron gave chase and on 25 July overhauled and captured Duquesne after a few shots were fired while Duguay Trouin and Guerriere managed to evade their pursuers and escape to France 5 One man was killed aboard Bellerophon during the pursuit 4 Elephant remained blockading Cap Francois until November when the French commander of the garrison there General Rochambeau was forced to surrender To prevent Rochambeau escaping launches from Bellerophon and Elephant went into the Caracol Passage where they cut out the French schooner Decouverte on 22 23 November The French formally surrendered on 30 November HMS Elephant under the command of Francis Austen captured the United States privateer Swordfish in December 1812 during the War of 1812 6 Contents 1 Fate 2 Footnotes 3 References 4 External linksFate EditElephant was reduced to a 58 gun fourth rate in 1818 and broken up in 1830 1 Footnotes Edit a b c Lavery Ships of the Line vol 1 p180 Gerlach Krzysztof 2006 Slon a sprawa dunska The elephant and a matter of Denmark Morze Statki i Okrety Vol X no 4 2006 58 Warsaw p 73 No 15620 The London Gazette 13 September 1803 p 1228 a b Cordingly Billy Ruffian p 165 Goodwin The Ships of Trafalgar p 68 Heathcote 2002 p 19 References EditCordingly David 2004 Billy Ruffian The Bellerophon and the Downfall of Napoleon The Biography of A Ship of the Line 1782 1836 London Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN 0 7475 6544 9 Goodwin Peter 2005 The Ships of Trafalgar The British French and Spanish Fleets October 1805 London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 1 84486 015 9 Heathcote Tony 2002 The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 1995 Pen amp Sword ISBN 0 85052 835 6 Lavery Brian 2003 The Ship of the Line Volume 1 The development of the battlefleet 1650 1850 Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 252 8 External links Edit Media related to HMS Elephant ship 1786 at Wikimedia Commons This article about a ship of the line of the United Kingdom is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Elephant 1786 amp oldid 1131936820, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
