Fleet Ledger

Naval wars from the age of sail to the present day

American War of Independence
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Battle of Flamborough Head

Battle of Flamborough Head

23 September 1779, North Sea, off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire

American victory

John Paul Jones had sailed right round the British Isles with a small squadron flying American colours when he met the Baltic convoy and its escort off Flamborough Head. His old converted merchantman, Bonhomme Richard, was outgunned by the new Serapis, and two of her heaviest guns burst early on. Jones lashed his ship to the Serapis so her guns could not be brought to bear, and for three hours by moonlight the two fought yardarm to yardarm. When asked if he had struck, Jones is supposed to have answered that he had not yet begun to fight. In the end a grenade dropped through a hatch set off powder on Serapis's gun deck, and Captain Pearson surrendered. The convoy got away safely, and Bonhomme Richard was too badly wrecked to save.

Read more on Wikipedia

The Action Between the Frigates Bonhomme Richard (Capt John Paul Jones) And HMS Serapis, During The Battle Of Flamborough Head, 1779. The Alliance fires on the combatants. oil on canvas 34 x 46 in. (86.3 x 116.8 cm) Exhibited: Royal Academy, 1780, number 314, titled: ‘The action between the Serapis, Image: Richard Paton, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Royal Navy

2 ships, 2 lost

ShipTypeOutcome
HMS Serapis

Captain Richard Pearson

Frigate

Fifth rate, 44 guns

Captured
Flotillas and other craftNumberLost

Hired armed ship

Countess of Scarborough (20 guns), captured by Pallas.

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Continental Navy and state navies

4 ships, 1 lost

ShipTypeOutcome
Bonhomme Richard

Sank on 25 September

Frigate

42 guns

Sunk
Alliance

Fired into both ships

Frigate

Fifth rate, 36 guns

Survived
Flotillas and other craftNumberLost

Frigate and brig

Pallas, which took the Countess of Scarborough, and the brig Vengeance, which kept out of the fight. Both were French ships lent to Jones.

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Map

  • John Paul Jones sails round the British Isles 14 August – 3 October 1779