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300px-Capture of Nereide

The Phoebe captures a French vessel

The H.M.S. Phoebe was a frigate armed with 36 guns. She was 142 feet long. She was built in 1795 and lasted until 1841. During the French Revolutionary War, she played a key role.

On January 10th, 1797, she captured the 3-year-old 16 gun brig Atlantes. She was taken into the Royal Navy. For much of that year she was part of a squadron of frigates stationed near Brest, England.

Just before Christmas of that year, H.M.S. Phoebe captured a 36 gun French frigate. After an almost hour and a half long chase, Phoebe exchanged broadsides with the French ship before the Frenchmen surrendered. Phoebe's crew suffered 3 deaths and 10 injuries, while the French frigate's crew suffered 20 deaths and 55 injuries. She also captured a 16 gunned French privateer on the 11th of October 1799. She attacked the vessel and pounded her until she struck her colors (surrendered).

On February 19th 1800, she fought a 32-gunned French Frigate for 2 hours and won.

She was dispatched to join Nelson's fleet as a message carrier and signal frigate in August 1805, and joined on October 1st.

At the battle of Trafalgar on October 21st 1805, she did not fight, but was very helpful in relaying messages to other ships. She continued transporting troops and capturing French vessels until June 1841, when she was broken up after serving as a hospital ship for 3 years.

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