''Didon'' was a 40-gun
frigate
A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat.
The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
of the
French Navy. Captured by the British in 1805, she went on to serve briefly in the
Royal Navy as the 38-gun
fifth-rate HMS ''Didon'' until she was sold in 1810.
French service
Laid down in 1796 as ''Fâcheuse'', she was renamed to ''Didon'' in 1799, the year of her launch.
On 13 October 1803, she captured the British privateer brig .
''Didon'' later took part in the
Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1805.
Capture
While attempting to rejoin the French fleet of
Allemand's expedition of 1805, she encountered , Captain
Thomas Baker, on 10 August 1805, off
Cape Finisterre
Cape Finisterre (, also ; gl, Cabo Fisterra, italic=no ; es, Cabo Finisterre, italic=no ) is a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain.
In Roman times it was believed to be an end of the known world. The name Finisterre, like ...
, and struck at .
Captain Milius, of ''Didon'', maneuvered adroitly, and casualties on both sides were heavy. The 4-hour fight cost ''Didon'' 27 men killed and 44 wounded. ''Phoenix'' lost 12 men killed and 28 wounded.
Lloyd's Patriotic Fund awarded Baker a sword worth 100
guineas. In 1847 the
Admiralty
Admiralty most often refers to:
*Admiralty, Hong Kong
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awarded the
Naval General Service Medal with clasp, "Phoenix 10 Augt. 1805".
Baker took ''Didon'' in tow and sailed towards
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
. By good fortune and skillful sailing he avoided encountering the Franco-Spanish fleet that had just left
Cádiz. Instead of continuing onward, Baker changed direction and sailed for England.
British service and fate
''Didon'' arrived at Plymouth on 4 September 1805. The Navy took her into British service as HMS ''Didon''; she is the only ship of the Royal Navy to have borne this name. The Royal Navy commissioned ''Didon'' under the command of Captain Thomas Baker in November. She was
paid off in 1807 and placed into
Ordinary
Ordinary or The Ordinary often refer to:
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* ...
the same year. The Navy commenced major repairs on ''Didon'' in May, but then cancelled the work. ''Didon'' was broken up in August 1811.
Citations
References
*
*
*
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Didon (1805)
Virginie-class frigates
1799 ships
Fifth-rate frigates of the Royal Navy
Ships built in France
Captured ships