HMS Staunch (1804)

HMS ''Staunch'' was a Royal Navy 12-gun , built by Benjamin Tanner and launched in 1804 at Dartmouth, Devon. She served in the Indian Ocean and participated in the action of 18 September 1810 before she foundered with the loss of all hands in 1811.

Service

''Staunch'' was commissioned in September 1804 under Lieutenant Benjamin Street and was attached to the Channel Fleet. On 30 August 1806, ''Staunch'' sailed for the Cape of Good Hope, with orders to assist in the invasions of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. ''Staunch''s crew landed and participated in the attack on Montevideo, suffering losses in the battle (one killed and four wounded).

On 1 June, the Spanish privateer schooner ''Mosca de Buenos Aires'', of four guns and 60 men, under the command of Juan Bautista Azopardo, outran ''Staunch'' and the brig as they chased her upriver. Later, two boats from the British warships attempted to seize ''Mosca de Buenos Aires'' in shallow waters. They failed, although they did manage to capture an enemy sloop. On 28 June, ''Staunch'' captured another sloop and destroyed two other vessels of a convoy going to the south shore for troops. When the British invasion failed, ''Staunch'' retired to the Cape of Good Hope.

In 1810, ''Staunch'' was attached to Commodore Josias Rowley's squadron on Île Bourbon and from there was part of the blockading force under Samuel Pym that was almost totally destroyed at the Battle of Grand Port (20–27 August 1810) over possession of the harbour of Grand Port on Isle de France (now Mauritius). ''Staunch'' had been sent back to Rowley for reinforcements and so was not with the squadron at its destruction.

Earlier, ''Staunch'' participated in the 10–17 August expeditions to capture the Île de la Passe. On 28 August ''Staunch'', , and shared in the capture of ''Garronne''. On 4 September the same three vessels shared in the capture of ''Ranger''.

''Staunch'' was later part of Rowley's squadron at the action of 13 September 1810 and helped drive off a French squadron under Pierre Bouvet at the action of 18 September 1810. In this action ''Staunch'' assisted in the recapture of and the capture of ''Vénus''.

Nearly four decades later the Admiralty recognized ''Staunch''s role in the battle by the clasp "Staunch 18 Sept. 1810" attached to the Naval General Service Medal, awarded upon application to all of her crew still living in 1847.

In November 1810, command passed to Lieutenant Hector Craig (acting), Street having removed to the government ship ''Emma'' as captain (acting). Craig then commanded ''Staunch'' in support of the successful Invasion of Isle de France (29 November to 3 December).

On 5 January 1811 , , , and , participated in the capture of the French schooner ''Mouche''. ''Staunch'' apparently was also entitled to share in the prize money.

Fate

In June 1811, while sailing off Madagascar, ''Staunch'' disappeared. She is believed to have foundered with the loss of her entire crew of 76.

Notes

Citations

References

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External links

Phillips, Michael: ''Ships of the Old Navy''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Staunch (1804)
1804 ships
Brigs of the Royal Navy
Ships built in Dartmouth
Maritime incidents in 1811
Shipwrecks in the Indian Ocean
Missing ships
Warships lost with all hands