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The [[France|French]]-built [[frigate]] ''Renommée'' was taken by the [[UK|British]] near [[Madagascar]] and renamed '''''HMS Java'''''. She carried 38 guns and was under the command of Captain [[Harry Lambert]] during the [[War of 1812]], when she met the American frigate [[USS Constitution|USS Constitution]] of 44 guns off the coast of [[Brazil]], in what would be her last battle, which lasted for three hours on [[December 29]], [[1812]]. HMS Java was a new frigate, well supplied and manned, and proved to be well handled and well fought. She was carrying additional personnel for other ships at the time and included another ship's commanding Captain in transit. In any case she proved to be a tougher opponent than [[HMS Guerriere]] did for the USS Constitution. After the surrender she was deemed unfit for repair and subsequently burned.<ref name="USnavy">http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const6.htm</ref>

The [[France|French]]-built [[frigate]] ''Renommée'' was taken by the [[UK|British]] near [[Madagascar]] and renamed '''''HMS Java'''''. She carried 38 guns and was under the command of Captain [[Harry Lambert]] during the [[War of 1812]], when she met the American frigate [[USS Constitution]] of 44 guns off the coast of [[Brazil]], in what would be her last battle, which lasted for three hours on [[December 29]], [[1812]]. HMS Java was a new frigate, well supplied and manned, and proved to be well handled and well fought. She was carrying additional personnel for other ships at the time and included another ship's commanding Captain in transit. In any case she proved to be a tougher opponent than [[HMS Guerriere]] did for the USS Constitution. After the surrender she was deemed unfit for repair and subsequently burned.<ref name="USnavy">http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const6.htm</ref>

==The Action==

==The Action==

USS Constitution sighted 2 sails in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] off the coast of [[Brazil]] and wore about to intercept.  Both HMS Java and USS Constitution made private signals to identify the other.  Failing that both ships raised Jacks and raised sails to intercept one another. HMS Java had the weather gauge and used it to attempt to rake USS Constitution.  The opening phase of the action comprised both ships attempting to rake the other with little success.  Captain Bainbridge wore USS Constitution to a matching course and opened fire with a broadside at 1/2 mile. This broadside accomplished nothing and forced Captain Bainbridge to risk raking to close HMS Java. Both ships began firing broadsides but HMS Java had a mast falling over her starboard side that prevented most of her guns from firing.  USS Constitution's accuracy of fire and greater weight and number of her broadside put the smaller HMS Java at a large disadvantage.  Within 1 hour and 55 minutes of the 1st exchange of broadsides HMS Java was a floating wreck and burned since she could not be salvaged.<ref name="USnavy">http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const6.htm</ref>

USS Constitution sighted 2 sails in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] off the coast of [[Brazil]] and wore about to intercept.  Both HMS Java and USS Constitution made private signals to identify the other.  Failing that both ships raised Jacks and raised sails to intercept one another. HMS Java had the weather gauge and used it to attempt to rake USS Constitution.  The opening phase of the action comprised both ships attempting to rake the other with little success.  Captain Bainbridge wore USS Constitution to a matching course and opened fire with a broadside at 1/2 mile. This broadside accomplished nothing and forced Captain Bainbridge to risk raking to close HMS Java. Both ships began firing broadsides but HMS Java had a mast falling over her starboard side that prevented most of her guns from firing.  USS Constitution's accuracy of fire and greater weight and number of her broadside put the smaller HMS Java at a large disadvantage.  Within 1 hour and 55 minutes of the 1st exchange of broadsides HMS Java was a floating wreck and burned since she could not be salvaged.<ref name="USnavy"/>

==Journal of Commodore William Bainbridge==

==Journal of Commodore William Bainbridge==

*Note that this is a transcription from the Captain of the USS Consititution and does contain both spelling errors and spelling conventions that are correct for 1812 and incorrect now... Please do not spell correct.

*Note that this is a transcription from the Captain of the USS Consititution and does contain both spelling errors and spelling conventions that are correct for 1812 and incorrect now... Please do not spell correct.

''Extract from Commodore Bainbridge's Journal Kept on board the U. S. Frigate Constitution Tuesday 29th December 1812'':<br />At 9 AM, discovered two Strange Sails on the weather bow, at 10. AM. discovered the strange sails to be Ships, one of them stood in for the land, and the other steered off shore in a direction towards us. At 10.45. We tacked ship to the Nd & Wd and stood for the sail standing towards us,-At 11 tacked to the Sd & Ed hauld up the mainsail and took in the Royals. At 11.30 AM made the private signal for the day, which was not answered, & then set the mainsail and royals to draw the strange sail off from the neutral Coast. Wednesday 30th December 1812, (Nautical Time) Commences with Clear weather and moderate breezes from E.N.E. Hoisted our Ensign and Pendant. At 15 minutes past meridian, The ship hoisted her colours, an English Ensign, --having a signal flying at her Main Red Yellow-Red At 1.26 being sufficiently from the land, and finding the ship to be an English Frigate, took in the Main Sail and Royals, tacked Ship and stood for the enemy At 1 .50. P.M, The Enemy bore down with an intention of rakeing us, which we avoided by wearing. At 2, P.M, the enemy being within half a mile, of us, and to wind ward, & having hawled down his colours to dip his Gafft, and not hoisting them again except an Union Jack at the Mizen Mast head, (we having hoisted on board the Constitution an American Jack forward Broad Pendant at Main, American Ensign at Mizen Top Gallant Mast head and at the end of The Gafft) induced me to give orders to the officer of the 3rd Division to fire one Gun ahead of the enemy to make him show his Colours, which being done brought on afire from us of the whole broadside, on which he hoisted an English Ensign at the Peak, and another in his weather Main Rigging, besides his Pendant and then immediately returned our fire, which brought on a general action with round and grape. The enemy Kept at a much greater distance than I wished, but Could not bring him to closer action without exposing ourselves to several rakes.-Considerable Manoeuvers were made by both Vessels to rake and avoid being raked.  The following Minutes Were Taken during the Action At 2.10. P.M, Commenced The Action within good grape and Canister distance. The enemy to windward (but much farther than I wished).  

''Extract from Commodore Bainbridge's Journal Kept on board the U. S. Frigate Constitution Tuesday 29th December 1812'':<br />At 9 AM, discovered two Strange Sails on the weather bow, at 10. AM. discovered the strange sails to be Ships, one of them stood in for the land, and the other steered off shore in a direction towards us. At 10.45. We tacked ship to the Nd & Wd and stood for the sail standing towards us,-At 11 tacked to the Sd & Ed hauld up the mainsail and took in the Royals. At 11.30 AM made the private signal for the day, which was not answered, & then set the mainsail and royals to draw the strange sail off from the neutral Coast. Wednesday 30 December 1812, (Nautical Time) Commences with Clear weather and moderate breezes from E.N.E. Hoisted our Ensign and Pendant. At 15 minutes past meridian, The ship hoisted her colours, an English Ensign, --having a signal flying at her Main Red Yellow-Red At 1.26 being sufficiently from the land, and finding the ship to be an English Frigate, took in the Main Sail and Royals, tacked Ship and stood for the enemy At 1 .50. P.M, The Enemy bore down with an intention of rakeing us, which we avoided by wearing. At 2, P.M, the enemy being within half a mile, of us, and to wind ward, & having hawled down his colours to dip his Gafft, and not hoisting them again except an Union Jack at the Mizen Mast head, (we having hoisted on board the Constitution an American Jack forward Broad Pendant at Main, American Ensign at Mizen Top Gallant Mast head and at the end of The Gafft) induced me to give orders to the officer of the 3rd Division to fire one Gun ahead of the enemy to make him show his Colours, which being done brought on afire from us of the whole broadside, on which he hoisted an English Ensign at the Peak, and another in his weather Main Rigging, besides his Pendant and then immediately returned our fire, which brought on a general action with round and grape. The enemy Kept at a much greater distance than I wished, but Could not bring him to closer action without exposing ourselves to several rakes.-Considerable Manoeuvers were made by both Vessels to rake and avoid being raked.  The following Minutes Were Taken during the Action At 2.10. P.M, Commenced The Action within good grape and Canister distance. The enemy to windward (but much farther than I wished).  

*At 2,30. P.M, our wheel was shot entirely away  

*At 2,30. P.M, our wheel was shot entirely away  

*At 2.40. determined to close with the Enemy, notwithstanding her rakeing, set the Fore sail & Luff'd up close to him.  

*At 2.40. determined to close with the Enemy, notwithstanding her rakeing, set the Fore sail & Luff'd up close to him.  

==In popular fiction==

==In popular fiction==

There is a fictional, but well-researched and historically accurate, account of this incident in [[Patrick O'Brian]]'s novel ''[[The Fortune of War]]'' (1979).<ref name="USnavy">http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const6.htm</ref>

There is a fictional, but well-researched and historically accurate, account of this incident in [[Patrick O'Brian]]'s novel ''[[The Fortune of War]]'' (1979).<ref name="USnavy"/>

[[Category:Warships]]

[[Category:Warships]]

[[category:United States Navy]]

[[Category:United States Navy]]