HMS Java was a British Royal Navy 38-gun fifth-rate frigate. She was originally launched in 1805 as the Renommée, described as a 40-gun Pallas-class French Navy frigate, but the vessel actually carried 46 guns. The British captured her in 1811 in a noteworthy action during the Battle of Tamatave, but she is most famous for her defeat on 29 December 1812 in a three-hour single-ship action against the USS Constitution. The Java had a crew of about 277 but during her engagement with Constitution her complement was 475.
In May 1811, she was part of a three-sail squadron under François Roquebert, comprising Renommée, Clorinde and Néréide, and ferrying troops to Mauritius. On 20 May, the French encountered a British squadron comprising Astraea, Phoebe, Galatea, and Racehorse. In the ensuing Battle of Tamatave, Renommée struck after her mainsail was set on fire. The British captured Néréide five days later at Tamatave, Madagascar. Clorinde escaped.
The British brought Renommée into service as Java and Néréide as Madagascar.
In July Java was under Captain William Gordon, but had not yet been commissioned. She was commissioned in August under Captain Henry Lambert. Java's captain was a senior commander who had seen combat on a number of occasions in His Majesty's service.
Java sailed from Portsmouth on 12 November for Bombay to deliver the appointed Governor, Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Hislop, and his staff with their baggage, and naval stores (including copper plates for Cornwallis, then under construction at Bomba, and plans for a new ship, the Trincomalee, whose construction was thus delayed). She was carrying additional personnel for other ships at the time and included another Royal Navy commander in transit.
Captain Lambert of the Java was a well-qualified officer, having seen much combat during his service. Java had more than a full crew, having been rounded out while in Portsmouth; however many were landsmen still raw to service at sea, and even more damning to her cause, they had only practiced gunnery once without shot loaded in the guns. Still, Java was well supplied and manned, and would prove to be well handled and well fought. Constitution had an experienced crew manning a heavy frigate rated at 44 guns and carrying 54 guns: 24 long 24-pounders and 30 32-pounder carronades, plus two 18-pounder bow chasers.
On 13 December 1812, sailing from Boston by way of Cape Verde the USS Constitution, under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, accompanied by USS Hornet, commanded by James Lawrence, arrived off the coast of Brazil at St. Salvador. On the 26th the Hornet was sent to its port to communicate with the American consul stationed there. On the 29th at 9:00 AM still out at high sea in search of prizes crewmen aloft the Constitution sighted strange sails on the distant horizon. Bainbridge initially was unsure of the disposition of the ships, but hours later as they drew closer he was able to discern that the approaching vessels were large and now assumed them to be British. To ascertain the disposition of the unidentified ships the Constitution hoisted private signals (flags) at 11:30 AM, while the assumed British vessel also hoisted its signals, but neither ship made the correct counter-signal.
Constitution tacking the wind made her way from the neutral Portuguese territorial waters with Java giving chase. The following day at 12:30 PM Java hoisted her colors and ensign with Constitution hoisting her colors in reply with. With the dispositions of each ship confirmed Java with the weather gauge to her advantage came about to position herself to rake the Constitution Being French-built, she was comparatively light for a frigate and was consequently faster and more maneuverable than Constitution. In reply Constitution fired a shot across her bow with Java returning fire with a full broadside.
Java started the battle badly out-matched both in terms of the experience of her crew and the weight of her broadside. Constitution with her experienced commander and crew countered by not shortening sail as was standard (this reduced strain on the masts thus making it less likely to lose a mast under fire). By 2 PM both ships were heading southeast. The opening phase of the action comprised both ships turning to and from attempting to get the better position for which to fire upon and rake the other, but with little success. Bainbridge now wore Constitution to a matching course and opened fire with a broadside at half a mile. This broadside accomplished nothing and forced Bainbridge to risk raking to close Java. Another broadside from Java carried away Constitution's helm, disabling her rudder and leaving Bainbridge severely wounded, however he still maintained command refusing to sit out the battle. Again both ships began firing broadsides but by now Java had a mast and sail falling over her starboard side that prevented most of her guns on that side from firing, which also prevented her from laying alongside Constitution. The guns that attempted to fire only managed to set the fallen sail and rigging ablaze from the fiery blasts of those guns.
Constitution's accuracy of fire and the greater weight of her broadside put the much smaller Java at a large disadvantage. Within one hour, after several close close encounters involving the various rigging of each ship getting entangled with the other Java's masts collapsed. During this encounter a sharpshooter aloft in Constitution's mortally wounded Lambert. Lieutenant Chads now took over command, assisted by the captain in transit to his ship. Bainbridge used this opportunity to distance the Constitution so as to make immediately needed repairs, taking approximately an hour's time. However clearing the masts and fallen rigging aboard Java had hardly begun when the Constitution returned from repairing her damage and immediately took a raking position from which Java could not defend herself and Lieutenant Chads had no choice but to strike colors and surrender Java. The Constitution hoisted out a boat sending First Lieutenant Parker to take possession of the prize.
In the battle, Java suffered 22 men killed, including Lambert, and 102 wounded. Constitution lost nine dead initially and 57 wounded, including Bainbridge. Some four or five wounded died later of their wounds.
In the course of battle the Java was rendered a dismasted hulk that was not fit to be taken as a whole prize. Instead Bainbridge removed her helm and installed it on the Constitution, replacing the one that had been shot away. On New Year's day 1813, two days after the engagement Bainbridge gave the order to set the stricken vessel ablaze where it subsequently blew up.
Upon learning of the death of Captain Lambert. Commodore Bainbridge expressed deep sorrow for a commander he credited to be brave and noble.
Although claims exist that the still-commissioned Constitution (anchored in Boston Harbor) sports the wheel that Bainbridge salvaged from Java, the evidence is that the US Navy replaced the wheel from Java in a subsequent refurbishment. On 23 April 1813, Lieutenant Chads and the other surviving officers and men of the Java faced the customary court martial aboard Gladiator for the loss of their ship. They were honourably acquitted.
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