Action of 27 February 1809

Action of 27 February 1809
Part of the Napoleonic Wars
Two sailing frigates are exchanging broadsides, while a third frigate in the distance approaches the two others from the rear and fires at extreme range. All three ships are surrounded by large clouds of smoke
Capture of HMS Proserpine by Pénélope and Pauline. Watercolour by Antoine Roux.
Date27 February 1809
Location
12 nautical miles (22 km) off Cape Sicié, near Toulon
Result French victory
Belligerents
First French Empire First French Empire United Kingdom United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Captain Bernard Dubourdieu
Captain François-Gilles Montfort		 Captain Charles Otter
Strength
Pénélope
Pauline
Later 2 ships of the line supporting		 HMS Proserpine
Casualties and losses
None[1] one killed, one mortally wounded, 11 lightly wounded.
Proserpine captured

The action of 27 February 1809 was a minor naval engagement during the French Revolutionary Wars. Two 44-gun frigates, Pénélope and Pauline, sortied from Toulon harbour to chase a British frigate, HMS Proserpine, which was conducting surveillance of French movements. First sneaking undetected and later trying to pass herself as a British frigate coming to relieve Proserpine, Pénélope approached within gun range before being identified. With the help of Pauline, she subdued Proserpine and forced her to surrender after a one-hour fight.

Proserpine was sailed to Toulon and commissioned in the French Navy, where she served until 1865. Captain Otter remained a prisoner in France until the end of the war; he was court martialed for the loss of his ship on 30 May 1814, and honourably acquitted.

  1. ^ Hennequin, p.72