F. S. Bell F. S. Bell Captain Frederick Secker Bell CB (17 August 1897 – 23 November 1973) of the Royal Navy was the commander of during the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939. He was educated at Matfield Grange, a prep school in Kent, and then at the Royal Naval Colleges of Osborne and Dartmouth. He served afloat in the battleship at the Battle of Jutland, as First Lieutenant of the destroyer in the Reserve Fleet at Devonport, 1923–25, and as executive officer of from 1935–38 and was promoted captain on 31 December 1938. He took command of in August
History of the United States Navy After two months, sank ; "Guerriere"s crew were most dismayed to see their cannonballs bouncing off "Constitution"s unusually strong live oak hull, giving her the enduring nickname of "Old Ironsides". On 29 December 1812 "Constitution" defeated off the coast of Brazil and "Java" was burned after the Americans determined she could not be salvaged. On 25 October 1812, captured HMS "Macedonian"; after the battle "Macedonian" was captured and entered into American service. In 1813, commenced a very fruitful raiding venture into the South Pacific, preying upon the British merchant and whaling industry. "Essex" was already known for her capture of