HMS Pique (1795)

HMS "Pique was a 38-gun fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She had formerly served with the French Navy, initially as the Fleur-de-Lys, and later as the Pique". HMS "Blanche" captured her in 1795 in a battle that left the "Blanche"s commander, Captain Robert Faulknor, dead. HMS "Pique" was taken into service under her only British captain, David Milne, but served for just three years with the Royal Navy before being wrecked in an engagement with the French ship "Seine" in 1798. The "Seine" had been spotted heading for a French port and "Pique" and another British ship gave chase. All three ships ran aground after a long and hard-fought pursuit. The arrival of a third British ship ended French resistance, but while the "Seine" and "Jason" were both refloated, attempts to save "Pique" failed; she bilged and had to be abandoned.
French career.
"Pique" was built at Rochefort as the "Fleur-de-Lys", one of the six-ship "Galatée" class designed by Raymond-Antoine Haran. She was launched on 2 December 1785. The French Revolution led to her being renamed "Pique" in June 1792.
Between 25 May and 23 December 1792, "Pique" was under the command of "lieutenant de vaisseau" d'Ancausse de Labatut. She cruised the environs of Belle Île and Île d'Yeu before returning to Île-d'Aix roads. She then sailed to observe the entrance to the Channel.
From 9 January 1793, "Pique" was under the command of "capitaine de vaisseau" d'Ancausse de Labatut in the Île-d'Aix roads. Then under the command of "capitaine de vaisseau" de Leissègues, between 7 March and 23 November 1793 she carried troops and passengers to the Windward Islands.
On 9 January 1794, "Pique" was at Rochefort before Leissègues again carried troops and passengers to the Windward Islands.
Capture.
"Pique" encountered (commanded by Captain Faulknor) off the island of Desirade at Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe on 4 January 1795. "Pique" at first tried to avoid an action, but eventually the two ships came to close quarters in the early hours of 5 January. The two ships closed and exchanged broadsides, with both sustaining heavy damage; "Blanche" lost her main and mizzen masts. "Pique" then turned and ran afoul of the "Blanche", with her bowsprit caught across her port quarter. While the French made several attempts to board, which were repulsed, the crew of "Blanche" attempted to lash the bowsprit to their capstan, but during the attempt Captain Faulknor was killed by a musket ball to the heart. "Pique" then broke away from "Blanche" and came round her stern, this time colliding on the starboard quarter. "Blanche"s men quickly lashed the bowsprit to the stump of their mainmast, which held her fast. "Pique" was now unable to manoeuvre or bring any of her guns to bear on "Blanche". After being repeatedly raked by "Blanche"s guns, "Pique" surrendered. Casualties for the British were eight killed, including Captain Faulknor, and 21 wounded. "Pique" had lost 76 killed and 110 wounded. The two ships were joined later that morning by the 64-gun , which helped exchange and secure the prisoners and tow the ships to port. "Blanche" towed her prize to a British port, where she was named and registered on 5 September.
British career.
HMS "Pique" was commissioned in September 1795 under Captain David Milne, and assigned to serve in the Leeward Islands. On 9 March 1796, "Pique" and captured the French privateer "Lacédémonienne" off Barbados. She was described as a brig of 14 guns and 90 men. The British took her into service.
"Pique" then went on to serve as part a squadron under Captain Thomas Parr in the fourth rate HMS "Malabar". She was present at the capture of the Dutch colonies of Demerera and Essequibo on 23 April 1796, and the capture of Berbice on 2 May 1796.
"Pique", , , and captured the "Catherina Christina" in July 1796. "Pique" then returned to Britain and operated in the English Channel from 1797.
"Pique" shared with , and the hired armed cutter "Nimrod" in the capture of the "Anna Christiana" on 17 May 1798.
While patrolling off the Penmarks on 29 June 1798 she and her consorts and came across the French frigate "Seine". "Seine" had crossed the Atlantic from the West Indies and was bound for a French port. The British squadron manoeuvred to cut her off from land, but the "Mermaid", under Captain James Newman-Newman, soon lost contact, leaving "Pique" under Milne and "Jason" under Captain Charles Stirling, to chase down the Frenchman.
The chase lasted all day, until 11 o'clock at night when "Pique" was able to range alongside "Seine" and fire a broadside. The two exchanged fire for several hours, with the lighter "Pique" suffering considerable damage to her masts and rigging. "Jason" then ranged up and Captain Stirling called upon Milne to anchor, but Milne did not hear and was determined to see "Seine" captured, and pressed on. Before the battle could be resumed, "Pique" ran suddenly aground. "Jason" too ran aground before she could swing way, while "Seine" was observed to have grounded, and lost all her masts in the process. As the tide rose, "Seine" was able to swing into a position to rake the two British ships. With difficulty, the sailors of "Jason" dragged several guns to the bow in order to exchange fire, while "Pique" was able to bring her foremost guns to bear. Under fire from both British ships, the appearance on the scene of "Mermaid" convinced the French to surrender. "Jason" had lost seven killed and 12 wounded, while "Pique" sustained casualties of two killed and six wounded. "Seine" however had 170 killed and 100 wounded.
Fate.
"Mermaid" arrived and retrieved "Jason", but "Pique" had bilged and had to be destroyed. too arrived and was instrumental in recovering "Seine". The Royal Navy took into service under her existing name.