{"product_id":"21963","title":"\"USS Wasp in action with HMS Frolic, 18th October 1812\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFramed Oil Painting on Canvas \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e18 x 24 inches (46 x 61 cm)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSigned, lower right,and dated 12\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sloop-of-war USS \u003cem\u003eWasp, \u003c\/em\u003ecarrying 16 32-poundercarronadesand two long guns, captured the British brig-sloop HM Brig \u003cem\u003eFrolic \u003c\/em\u003ewith nearly identical armament, on the 18th October 1812, in the Atlantic north of Bermuda.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIn September 1812 \u003cem\u003eFrolic\u003c\/em\u003e left the Gulf of Honduras as escort for a convoy bound for Britain. On the 16\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e October, north of Bermuda, the convoy was scattered by a gale and \u003cem\u003eFrolic\u003c\/em\u003e suffered serious rigging damage, including the loss of her main yard.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eUSS \u003cem\u003eWasp\u003c\/em\u003e 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. \u003cem\u003eWasp\u003c\/em\u003e sighted sail late on October 17\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e and in the morning identified them as merchantmen with a Royal Navy brig.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThere was still a strong wind and a heavy sea on the 18\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e as both vessels shortened sail and prepared for action. The crew of \u003cem\u003eFrolic\u003c\/em\u003e 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. \u003cem\u003eWasp\u003c\/em\u003e fired low into the hull but \u003cem\u003eFrolic\u003c\/em\u003e, departing from usual Royal Navy practice, fired high to disable \u003cem\u003eWasp\u003c\/em\u003e’s rigging. In a very short time \u003cem\u003eWasp\u003c\/em\u003e’s rigging was indeed badly damaged and she was unmanageable but \u003cem\u003eFrolic\u003c\/em\u003e was even more badly damaged and her crew had taken very heavy casualties. Both ships being now unmanageable, a final broadside from \u003cem\u003eWasp\u003c\/em\u003e settled the matter and twenty-two minutes after the start of the action the Americans boarded \u003cem\u003eFrolic\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eFrolic\u003c\/em\u003e did not remain an American prize for long because the ship of the line HMS \u003cem\u003ePoictiers\u003c\/em\u003e appeared and the disabled \u003cem\u003eWasp\u003c\/em\u003e was forced to surrender facing those impossible odds.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eFrolic\u003c\/em\u003e never recovered and was broken up in 1813. \u003cem\u003eWasp\u003c\/em\u003e served in the Royal Navy as HMS \u003cem\u003ePeacock\u003c\/em\u003e and was wrecked in 1814.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe 18\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of October, 1812 was their day of immortality.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSOLD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOMMISSIONING PATRICK O'BRIEN\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt Marine Artists.co.uk one of our main specialities is commissioning great marine and historical paintings for clients and collectors all over the world\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTo commission your own painting from Patrick O'Brien, contact Charles Mayes \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ca href=\"mailto:cm@marineartists.co.uk\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ecm@marineartists.co.uk \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eand we will post or e-mail you a free pack of information including our short guide\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\"Commissioning a Painting from Patrick O'Brien\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTo receive notice of new paintings by Patrick O'Brien for sale send your details to us\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Patrick O'BRIEN (American, Contemporary)","offers":[{"title":"Framed Oil Painting","offer_id":55616654115158,"sku":"POBX00Wasp-21963","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1048\/3050\/1206\/files\/OBrien_20-_20Wasp_20v_20Frolic_20unframed_203_20-large_6f8fe97d-ee76-4ab0-bd6b-6e3f88053b0d.jpg?v=1791280034","url":"https:\/\/marineartists.co.uk\/products\/21963","provider":"Marine Artists","version":"1.0","type":"link"}