Action of 5 June 1820

Action of 5 June 1820
Part of South Terrifica War
Date 5th June 1820 Location South Terrifican Sea Result Vionna-Frankenlischian Victory
Belligerents
Vionna-Frankenlisch	Kingdom of Gallandia
Commanders and leaders
Captain Horatio Rotail	Capitaine Jean de la Bartia
Strength
1 Heavy Frigate - HMNS Westonland	1 Corvette, 2 Sloops
Casualties and losses
6 Killed, 19 Wounded	1 Corvette and 1 Sloop captured 28 Killed, 21 Wounded, 201 Captured

The Action of 5 June 1820 was a naval engagement of the South Terrifica War fought between HMNS Westonland, a heavy, 44 gun frigate of the Imperial Vionna-Frankenlischian Navy and three ships of the Royal Gallandic Navy. The engagement ended in an Imperial victory and two Gallandic ships of war were captured.

Action

At midday on the 5th of June, 1820, HMNS Westonland came into contact with a three-ship group of the Royal Gallandic Navy. Led by Captain Jean de la Bartia, the Gallandic group moved in to engage Westonland. Captain Horatio Rotail of the Westonland recognised the Gallandic intentions and turned to starboard to gain the weather gauge. The Gallandic ships continued to approach Westonland with their bows faced towards Westonland's port broadside. The Corvette Soixville led the group with the 16 gun sloops-of-war La Rêve and Resonant trailing behind.

Westonland began firing with her 18pdr long guns but did not cause any significant damage. Rotail, his ship supposedly suffering from a severe lack of ammunition, kept his 24pdr guns and carronades from firing until the Gallandic ships were within 300 yards. With quick and accurate gunfire, Westonland crippled Resonant and forced her to surrender before she could even turn to fire.

Soixville cut across Westonland's bow and raked her with gunfire, taking only negligible return fire from Westonland's bow-chasers and starboard-bow swivel gun. Captain de la Bartia, noted as a good fighter but a poor sailor, tried to turn his ship too late and by the time he gave the order, Soixville had sailed into the gunnery arc of Westonland's starboard broadside. To Soixville's credit, the ship put up a dogged struggle despite being heavily outgunned.

According to Rotail's report on the action: "Once her foremast had been torn to rags by gunnery and her crew decimated by grape, the sixth rate was boarded by Westonland." An Imperial Navy Lieutenant Danvers supposedly lead the boarding party and carried Soixville in a swift action which, according to Rotail's report was: "Almost without loss." Following the capture of Soixville, Westonland turned to engage La Rêve. Despite taking a heavy pounding from Westonland's guns, La Rêve escaped with heavy damage but negligible casualties (despite the claim of "heavy casualties" in Captain Rotail's report).

Aftermath

Westonland suffered the loss of one Midshipman, two marines and three ratings. Nineteen officers and men from Westonland were wounded. Resonant and Soixville were captured successfully. A Midshipman Greville took prize command of Resonant while Lieutenant Danvers took prize command of Soixville. Soixville was commissioned into service as HMNS Adeleux, Lieutenant Danvers was promoted to Commander and took command of Adeleux the following month. Resonant was sold into private service with a merchant shipping firm.

In total, the Westonland's crew and captain received a sum of roughly 12,000 Lucans. Meaning that Captain Rotail made 3,000 Lucans and a regular rating received around L10/10s.

Order of Battle

HMNS Westonland
Ship	Rate	Guns	Navy	Commander	Casualties			Notes
					Killed	Wounded	Total
HMNS Westonland	5th Rate (heavy)	44		Captain Horatio Rotail	6	19	25

Captain de la Bartia's group
Ship	Rate	Guns	Navy	Commander	Casualties			Notes
					Killed	Wounded	Total
Soixville	Corvette	26		Captain Jean de la Bartia	11	6	17	Taken by boarding. Commissioned into Imperial Navy as HMNS Adeleux
Resonant	Sloop-of-War	16		Captain Henri de Melpet  †	13	10	23	Surrendered. Sold off into private merchant service.
La Rêve	Sloop-of-War	16		Captain Francois Marqeur	4	5	9	Escaped with heavy damage. Captured at the Battle of Danglare, commissioned into Imperial Navy as HMNS Caracern.