"USS Wasp in action with HMS Frolic, 18th October 1812"

In September 1812 Frolic left the Gulf of Honduras as escort for a convoy bound for Britain. On the 16^th October, north of Bermuda, the convoy was scattered by a gale and Frolic suffered serious rigging damage, including the loss of her main yard.

USS Wasp had left the Delaware River three days earlier, running south east to intercept British shipping, and had also been damaged in the gale, losing her jib boom. Wasp sighted sail late on October 17^th and in the morning identified them as merchantmen with a Royal Navy brig.

There was still a strong wind and a heavy sea on the 18^th as both vessels shortened sail and prepared for action. The crew of Frolic took down the jury mainmast and lashed it to the deck. As each ship carried only carronades there was no manoeuvring and they closed immediately to a range of about 60 yards, opening fire at about 11.30 a.m. Wasp fired low into the hull but Frolic, departing from usual Royal Navy practice, fired high to disable Wasp’s rigging. In a very short time Wasp’s rigging was indeed badly damaged and she was unmanageable but Frolic was even more badly damaged and her crew had taken very heavy casualties. Both ships being now unmanageable, a final broadside from Wasp settled the matter and twenty-two minutes after the start of the action the Americans boarded Frolic to find every British officer and half the crew dead or wounded. The Americans took only ten casualties and it was accepted that, while the British fought gallantly to the end, the American gunnery was superior.

Frolic did not remain an American prize for long because the ship of the line HMS Poictiers appeared and the disabled Wasp was forced to surrender facing those impossible odds.

Frolic never recovered and was broken up in 1813. Wasp served in the Royal Navy as HMS Peacock and was wrecked in 1814.

The 18^th of October, 1812 was their day of immortality.