French brig Cygne (1806)

Cygne was an Abeille-class 16-gun brig of the French Navy, launched in 1806.

Cygne
1/36 scale model of Cygne, on display at the Musée national de la Marine in Paris
History
France
Name: Cygne
Namesake: Swan
Ordered: 21 January 1806 [1]
Builder: Le Havre Dockyard [1]
Laid down: 28 April 1806
Launched: 12 September 1806
Fate: Wrecked on 13 December 1808 [1]
General characteristics
Class and type: Abeille-class brig [1]
Displacement: 350 ton (French) [1]
Length: 32 m (105 ft) [1]
Beam: 8.7 m (29 ft) [1]
Draught: 3.5 m (11 ft) [1]
Complement: 84 [1]
Armament:
Armour: Timber

Career

On 10 November 1808, under Lieutenant Menouvrier Defresne, Cygne departed Cherbourg, part of a squadron under Rear-Admiral Hamelin also comprising the frigates Vénus, Junon, Amphitrite and the brig Papillon. bound for Martinique.[2] The next day, the ships of the squadron were scattered.[1] On 13, Cygne captured the Portuguese ship Miliciano and set her ablaze.[1]

Arriving near Martinique, Cygne was chased by the frigate HMS Circe (Augustin Collier), the corvette Stork (George Le Geyt), the brigs HMS Morne Fortunee (John Brown), Amaranthe (Pelham Brenton), Epervier (Thomas Tudor) and the schooner Express (William Dowers).[3] On 12 December, Cygne passed the Northern cape of Martinique; seeing that he would be overhauled by the British squadron before reaching Saint-Pierre, Menouvrier Defresne decided to drop anchor under a shore battery at Anse Céron.[1][4]

Two of the British brigs then dropped anchor in positions that cut Cygne′s retreat to Saint-Pierre, while the other ships launched boats to attempt a cutting out boarding.[notes 1] Cygne sank three before they reached her. Circe approached with her crew ready for boarding, but was repelled by a grapeshot broadside, while the surviving boats reached Cygne′s stern; the party was repelled and 17 men were taken prisoner.[4]

The next day, Cygne found herself becalmed; Defresne attempted to move his ship by having her hauled from the shore by infantrymen and by using her oars, and progressed towards Saint-Pierre, under fire from Amaranthe. But due to a navigation error, Cygne ran aground and started taking water. As the other British ships closed within range, Defresne ordered Cygne abandoned and scuttled by fire.[1][5] Defresne was offered a sword of honour by the city of Saint-Pierre for his defence. As a token of esteem, Brenton gifted him a sword belt, and Lieutenant Hay, a dagger.[5]

The wreck was discovered in 1991 and was explored the next year.[6][7] A 1/36 scale model of the ship is on display at the Musée national de la Marine in Paris.[8]

Depictions of the battle between Cygne and British boats
  • Battle of Cygne against the British division
  • Depiction by Mayer.

Notes, citations, and references
Notes
  1. Troude notes that Defresne reported seven boats each carrying about 50 men, while James states that only 68 men were involved
Citations
  1. Roche, p. 138
  2. François Marie 2ème Denis de Keredern de Trobriand
  3. Troude, p.519-520
  4. Troude, p.520
  5. Troude, p.521
  6. Liste des naufrages en Martinique consignés dans les fonds d'Archives
  7. Liste des sites archéologiques sous-marins de la Martinique
  8. Maquette de bateau, Cygne, brick, 1806-1808
References
  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
  • Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). 3. Challamel ainé.
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