Action of 21 April 1806

Action of 21 April 1806
Part of the Napoleonic Wars
In the foreground, HMS Tremendous aborts her attempt at raking Cannonière under the threat of being outmanoeuvred and raked herself by her more agile opponent. In the background, the Indiaman Charlton fires her parting broadside at Cannonière.
The Action of 21 April 1806, Pierre-Julien Gilbert
Date21 April 1806
Location
Off Natal, Cape of Good Hope
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
France United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
César Bourayne John Osborn
Strength
1 frigate 2 ships of the line
Casualties and losses
7 killed
25 wounded[1]		 None[1]

30°45′S 30°05′E / 30.750°S 30.083°E / -30.750; 30.083 The action of 21 April 1806 was a minor engagement between a French frigate and British forces off South Africa during the Napoleonic Wars. The Île Bonaparte and Île de France constituted French outposts in the Indian Ocean, from which privateers and frigate squadrons could engage in commerce raiding and disrupt British shipping. After encountering a strongly escorted British convoy, the 40-gun Cannonière attempted to flee, but was rejoined by the 74-gun HMS Tremendous. In the ensuing battle, Captain Bourayne displayed superior sailmanship and managed to fend off his much stronger opponent by a combination of manoeuvers that rendered the batteries of Tremendous ineffective, and threatened her with sustaining raking fire. The French frigate thus managed to evade and escape.

  1. ^ a b Naval history of Great Britain Archived 13 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, by William James, vol. IV, p. 234