action action minor naval engagement french revolutionary wars squadron british_royal_navy frigates frigate smaller ships navy british squadron detached previous day british north_sea fleet admiral cruising fleet anchorage squadron returning netherlands norwegian coast suffering defeat action august previous year squadron neared coast british squadron captain attacked frigate able cut frigate shore bring battle forcing surrender minutes british ships closed combat remainder squadron dispersed eastwards away frigates duncan fleet pursued frigate brig sloop hms lengthy chase phoenix caught cutter duke york seized brig mercury succeeded driving echo ashore believed wrecked duncan blockade instrumental british control north_sea year later achieve decisive victory battle background february declared war drawing ongoing french revolutionary wars years later winter overrun french cavalry charging ice blocked winter capturing intact french reorganised country client state named ordered operate north_sea british maritime trade routes british government immediately declare war steps seize dutch shipping british ports established new fleet combat operations north_sea known composed mainly older smaller vessels considered suitable service channel_fleet command force given year old admiral august sent frigate squadron operate british trade routes scandinavia carried large quantities british naval stores supply british fleets trade routes passed baltic_sea channels north_sea squadron consequently cruised mouth southern coast neutral danish controlled norway counteract operation duncan sent squadron british frigates command captain orders intercept destroy ships august force discovered squadron close norwegian harbour closed force attempt cut land able intercept frigate ship compelling vessel surrender short engagement remainder squadron exchanged fire ships damaging frigate force unable prevent escape rest year operated norwegian coast unable significant cruises attention british warships operating region duncan fleet actively cruising commanding blockade force ships line numerous smaller vessels sea principal fleet anchorage duncan ensured blockade vessels norwegian ports maintained gun frigate captain brig sloop commander white sent patrol waters early authorities ordered return fleet frigate sailed norwegian port echo guns mercury guns guns departure squadron noticed small blockade force ships passed southwards coast jutland losing sight correctly force destination ordered separate vessels following different courses instructing white proceed duncan blockade fleet meet unable squadron route encountered shortly close duncan fleet south having located squadron sailed close danish german coasts night seizing passing british cutter named duke york travelling hamburg dawn ships coast sailing southwest anchorage battle hearing report duncan immediately small squadron mouth wait arrival squadron command squadron given captain gun frigate accompanied gun fourth rate squadron detached immediately squadron sighted southeast heading entrance northwest wind force unified far ahead phoenix leopard british commander decided deliberately forces faster pursuing command rear force attacking frigate duncan main fleet distance sighted squadron joined chase captain finding large force bearing ordered cutter separate frigate turning wind effort escape close turned away pursuing phoenix unable decide fight flee result changed course number times inevitably slowed ship phoenix able come alongside advantage weather fired shot ship bow warning surrender overwhelming odds captain refused opened fire british frigate efforts escape exchange fire ship accurate effective mounting pounder cannon pounder frigate pounder main battery supplemented number cannon lower minutes phoenix torn rigging sails masts inflicted heavy casualties killed wounded ship damaged duncan fleet sight leopard far phoenix captain surrendered allowing possession vessel phoenix joined soon surrender gun ship line hms powerful captain ships took possession frigate chase remainder squadron continued turned coastline seek shelter leading british ships gun hms captain turned chase sought ships coast found slowed vessels opportunity escape maintained pursuit watched ships echo driven ashore village sailing close shore line safely possible detached investigate state grounded ships determining damaged repair having initially grounded driven deeper water far report action duncan considered storm swept area day following action probably drove brig destroyed survivors squadron coast faster forces british fleet gun mercury forcing surrender captain thrown cannon overboard effort ship allow escape british pursuit success later day phoenix able seize prize duke york completing destruction entire squadron aftermath brought prizes britain mercury purchased service royal_navy respectively names use royal_navy british losses engagement man killed wounded suffered phoenix engagement apart losses exchange casualties british reported action significant engagement fought coast duncan force kept main fleet contained anchorage october main fleet able break sail raiding cruise english coast duncan intercepted fleet return inflicted decisive defeat october battle
Action of 12 May 1796