 Battle between Lapwing and Décius. Watercolour by Antoine Roux.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Décius |
| Builder | Brest |
| Laid down | August 1794 |
| Launched | 8 October 1795 |
| Commissioned | December 1795 |
| Fate | Destroyed 26 November 1796 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Société populaire-class corvette |
| Tons burthen | 300 (bm) |
| Length | 35.08 m (115.1 ft) |
| Beam | 8.93 m (29.3 ft) |
| Depth of hold | 3.98 m (13.1 ft) |
| Complement | 53 |
| Armament |
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Décius was a Société populaire-class corvette launched in 1795 in Brest. Originally named Doucereuse, she was renamed to Décius in 1795. The British Royal Navy destroyed her in November 1796.
Career
Décius was appointed to the Saint Martin station in 1796, under Lieutenant Louis-André Senez. On 27 November, she took part in the French invasion of Anguilla, along with the gun-brig Vaillante, and three schooners. In the raid, the French captured 21 ships and took 900 prisoners. Returning to Guadeloupe, the French flotilla encountered the frigate HMS Lapwing, under Captain R. Barton. Décius engaged Lapwing in order to cover the retreat of the weaker ships, and fought for two hours before striking her colours.
Lapwing then destroyed Vaillante, and took possession of Décius. Barton found that she had suffered about 80 men killed and 40 wounded. He took 170 prisoners. The next day two French frigates, Thétis and Pensée, chased Lapwing. Barton took the prisoners aboard Lapwing and set fire to Décius. Lapwing then returned to St Kitts.
Citations
- Winfield & Roberts (2015), pp. 169–170.
- ^ Quintin, p.341
- Troude (1867), p. 45.
- "No. 13972". The London Gazette. 17 January 1797. p. 52.
References
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
- Quintin, Danielle; Quintin, Bernard (2003). Dictionnaire des capitaines de Vaisseau de Napoléon (in French). S.P.M. ISBN 2-901952-42-9.
- Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 3. Challamel ainé.
- Winfield, Rif; Roberts, Stephen S. (2015). French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786–1861: Design Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-204-2.