View source for HMS Java (1811)

{{short description|British Royal navy frigate}}
{{Other ships|French ship Renommée|HMS Java}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Nicholas Pocock, the Capture of HMS Java (cropped).jpg
|Ship caption=The capture of HMS ''Java'' by USS ''Constitution'',<br />drawn by [[Nicholas Pocock]]
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=France
|Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|France|naval}}
|Ship name=''Renommée''
|Ship builder=Mathurin & Antoine Crucy, Basse-Indre [[Nantes]]
Ship ordered=26 March 1805
|Ship laid down=October 1805
|Ship launched=20 August 1808
|Ship captured=20 May 1811
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=[[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=HMS ''Java''
|Ship acquired= 20 May 1811
|Ship in service=May 1811
|Ship captured=29 December 1812
|Ship fate=Burnt on 1 January 1813
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Ship class={{sclass|Pallas|frigate (1808)|0}} [[fifth-rate]] [[Sailing frigate|frigate]]
|Ship tons burthen=1073 {{small|{{Frac|41|94}}}} ([[Builder's Old Measurement|bm]])
|Ship length={{convert|152|ft|5+1/2|in|m|1|abbr=on}} (gundeck); {{convert|126|ft|5+1/2|in|m|1|abbr=on}} (keel)
|Ship beam={{convert|39|ft|11+3/8|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship hold depth={{convert|12|ft|9|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship sail plan=[[Full-rigged ship]]
|Ship complement=397
|Ship armament=*28 × 18-pounder guns
*2 × 12-pounder guns
*18 × 32-pounder [[carronade]]s
*1 × 24-pounder carronade
}}
|}
'''HMS ''Java''''' was a British [[Royal Navy]] 38-gun [[fifth-rate]] [[Sailing frigate|frigate]]. She was originally laid down in 1805 as '''''Renommée''''', described as a 40-gun {{sclass|Pallas|frigate (1808)|0}} [[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 {{USS|Constitution}}. ''Java'' had a [[Ship's company|complement]] of about 277, but during her engagement with ''Constitution'' she allegedly had 426 aboard, in comparison with her opponent's 475.<ref>[[#Hollis|Hollis, 1900]] pp. 136–137</ref>

==French service==
[[File:A naval engagement at night, thought to be an action between H.M.S. Junon and the French frigates Renommée and Clorinde in the West Indies, 13th December 1809 CSK 2011.jpg|thumb|left|A naval engagement at night, an action between HMS ''Junon'' and the French frigates ''Renommée'' and ''Clorinde'', 13 December 1809]]

In May 1811, she was part of a three-sail squadron under [[François Roquebert]], comprising ''Renommée'', {{ship|French frigate|Clorinde|1808|2}} and ''[[HMS Madagascar (1811)|Néréide]]'', and ferrying troops to [[Mauritius]]. On 20 May, the French encountered a British squadron comprising {{HMS|Astraea|1810|2}}, {{HMS|Phoebe|1795|2}}, {{HMS|Galatea|1810|2}}, and {{HMS|Racehorse|1806|2}}. 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'', commanded by [[Jacques de Saint-Cricq]], escaped. The British brought ''Renommée'' into service as ''Java'' and ''Néréide'' as {{HMS|Madagascar|1811|2}}.<ref>{{cite book |last=James |first=William |year=1837 |title=The Naval History of Great Britain: From the Declaration of War by France in 1793 to the Accession of George IV |publisher=R. Bentley |url={{GBUrl|ASNEAAAAYAAJ}} |pages=15–26}}</ref>

==Royal Navy service==
In July ''Java'' was under Captain William Gordon, but not commissioned until August under Captain [[Henry Lambert]],<ref name=Winfield>Winfield (2008), p. 181.</ref> a senior commander who had seen combat on a number of occasions in His Majesty's service.<ref name=autogenerated1>Toll, p. 376</ref>

''Java'' sailed from Portsmouth on 12 November for Bombay to deliver the appointed governor, Lieutenant-General Sir [[Sir Thomas Hislop, 1st Baronet|Thomas Hislop]], and his staff with their baggage, and naval stores (including copper plates for the under-construction {{HMS|Cornwallis|1813|2}}, at Bombay, and plans for the new ship, {{HMS|Trincomalee||2}}). She was carrying additional personnel for other ships at the time and included another Royal Navy commander in transit.<ref name="Naval Chronicle">Naval Chronicle, Vol. 29 p. 243</ref>

===Capture by USS ''Constitution''===
[[File:Constitution-Java battle plan.png|thumb|300px|Diagram of the battle between USS ''Constitution'' and HMS ''Java'']]
Captain Lambert of ''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]], but many were landsmen still raw to service at sea, and even more damning to her cause, they had only practised 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. {{USS|Constitution}} had an experienced crew manning a [[heavy frigate]] carrying 54 cannon: thirty 24-pounder guns and twenty-four 32-pounder [[carronade]]s, plus two 24-pounder [[Chase gun|bow chasers]].<ref>Marquardt 2005</ref>

On 13 December 1812, sailing from Boston by way of [[Cape Verde]], USS ''Constitution'', under the command of Captain [[William Bainbridge]], accompanied by {{USS|Hornet|1805 brig|6}}, commanded by [[James Lawrence]], arrived off the coast of Brazil at [[Salvador, Bahia|St. Salvador]]. On 26 December ''Hornet'' was sent into the port to communicate with the American consul stationed there. On 29 December at 9:00&nbsp;a.m., still out at high sea in search of prizes, crewmen aloft ''Constitution'' sighted strange sails on the distant horizon.{{sfn|Cooper|1856|pp=269–270}} 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 ''Constitution'' hoisted private signals (flags) at 11:30&nbsp;a.m., while the assumed British vessel also hoisted its signals, but neither ship made the correct counter-signal.<ref name="Harris, 1837 p.148">[[#Harris|Harris, 1837]] p. 148</ref>

''Constitution'', tacking the wind, made her way from the neutral Portuguese territorial waters with ''Java'' giving chase.{{sfn|Cooper|1856|p=270}}{{sfn|Dudley|Crawford|1985|pp=639-772}} At 12:30&nbsp;p.m. that day  ''Java'' hoisted her colors and ensign with ''Constitution'' hoisting her colors in reply. With the dispositions of each ship confirmed, ''Java'', with the [[weather gauge]] to her advantage, came about to position herself to [[Raking fire|rake]] ''Constitution''. Being French-built, she was comparatively light for a frigate and was consequently faster and more maneuverable than ''Constitution''.<ref>[[#Roosevelt|Roosevelt, 1883]] p. 120</ref>{{efn|Roosevelt draws on the primary sources of the Logbook of the ''Constitution'', Chad's address to the Court-martial, 23 April 1813, Commodore Bainbridge's letters, testimony of Christopher Speedy at Chad's Court-martial, [[ship's doctor|naval surgeon]] J. C. Jones' report.<ref>[[#Roosevelt|Roosevelt, 1883]] pp. 120–122</ref>}} In reply ''Constitution'' fired a shot across ''Java''{{'}}s bow with ''Java'' returning fire with a full broadside.<ref name="Harris, 1837 p.148"/>

''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).<ref name=autogenerated1 /> By 2:00&nbsp;p.m., both ships were heading southeast. The opening phase of the action comprised both ships turning to and fro, attempting to get the better position for which to fire upon and rake the other, but with little success. Bainbridge now [[Jibe (sailing)|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''.<ref>Toll, p. 377</ref> 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. Both ships resumed 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.<ref>[[#Roosevelt|Roosevelt, 1883]] pp. 120–123</ref><ref>[[#James|James & Chamier, 1837]] p. 129</ref>

[[File:The Java in a Sinking state, set fire to, & Blowing up. The Constitution at a distance... repairing her Rigging etc. - NARA - 535742.tif|thumb|HMS ''Java'' exploding after being set ablaze]]
''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 encounters involving the rigging of each ship getting entangled with the other's, ''Java''{{'}}s masts collapsed. During this encounter a sharpshooter aloft in ''Constitution'' mortally wounded Lambert.<ref name=autogenerated2>Toll, p. 379</ref><ref>[[#Roosevelt|Roosevelt, 1883]] p. 122</ref> Lieutenant [[Henry Ducie Chads]] now took over command, assisted by the captain in transit to his ship. Bainbridge used this opportunity to distance ''Constitution'' so as to make immediately-needed repairs, taking approximately an hour. Clearing the masts and fallen rigging aboard ''Java'' had hardly begun when ''Constitution'' returned from repairing her damage and immediately took a raking position from which ''Java'' could not defend herself. This left Lieutenant Chads no choice but to surrender ''Java''. ''Constitution'' hoisted out a boat and sent First Lieutenant Parker to take possession of the prize.{{sfn|Cooper|1856|p=270}}<ref name=autogenerated2 /><ref>[[#James|James & Chamier, 1837]] p. 128</ref>

In the battle, ''Java'' suffered 22 men killed, including Lambert, and 102 wounded.<ref name=Winfield/> ''Constitution'' lost nine men initially and 57 wounded, including Bainbridge. Some four or five later succumbed to their wounds.<ref name="Harris, 1837 p.146">[[#Harris|Harris, 1837]] p. 146.</ref>{{efn|Accounts of ''Constitution{{'}}''s casualties appear to vary. Roosevelt claims 12 killed and 22 wounded;<ref>[[#Roosevelt|Roosevelt, 1883]] p. 123</ref> Harris puts the numbers at nine killed and 25 wounded, with the number killed not taking into account three of the wounded who later died.<ref name="Harris, 1837 p.146"/>}}

In the course of battle ''Java'' was rendered a dismasted hulk that was not worth taking as a prize. Instead Bainbridge removed her helm and installed it on ''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 ''Java'' ablaze; she subsequently blew up.<ref>[[#Hollis|Hollis, 1900]] pp. 177–185</ref><ref>[[#Harris|Harris, 1837]] pp. 145–150</ref>{{sfn|Cooper|1856|pp=270-272}}

Upon learning of the death of Captain Lambert, Commodore Bainbridge expressed deep sorrow for a commander he credited to be brave and noble. On 23 April 1813, Lieutenant Chads and the other surviving officers and men of ''Java'' faced the customary [[court martial]] aboard {{HMS|Gladiator|1783|6}} for the loss of their ship. They were honourably acquitted.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

==In fiction==
The engagement between ''Java'' and ''Constitution'' was fictionalized in the novel ''[[The Fortune of War]]'' by [[Patrick O'Brian]] and in the novel ''Yankee Mission'' by Julian Stockwin.<ref>{{cite book |last=O'Brian |first=Patrick |author-link= |date=1979 |title=The Fortune of War |url= |location=New York |publisher=William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd |chapter=Chapter 3 |isbn=9780393541632}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom}}
* [[Bibliography of early United States naval history]]
* [[Glossary of nautical terms (A–L)]]
* [[Glossary of nautical terms (M–Z)]]
* [[List of early warships of the English navy]]
* [[List of ship names of the Royal Navy]]
* [[Sailing ship tactics]]
* [[List of ships captured in the 19th century]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Cooper |first=James Fenimore |author-link=James Fenimore Cooper |year=1856 |title=History of the Navy of the United States of America |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_WK3mWOlYYNsC/page/n539 |location=New York |publisher=[[Henry Oscar Houghton#Stringer & Townsend|Stringer & Townsend]] |oclc=197401914}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Dudley |editor1-first= William S. |editor2-last=Crawford |editor2-first=Michael J. |others=Contributor: Hughes, Christine F. |year=1985 |title=The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History |url={{GBUrl|81CHnQEACAAJ}} |publisher=[[Naval History and Heritage Command|Naval Historical Center]], [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of Navy]] |isbn=978-1-780-39364-3 |pages=639–772}}
* {{cite book |last=Harris |first=Thomas |year=1837 |title=The Life and Services of Commodore William Bainbridge, United States Navy |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_7CxCAAAAIAAJ/page/n257 |location=Philadelphia |publisher=[[Isaac Lea|Carey Lea & Blanchard]] |page=254 |isbn=978-0-795-00485-8 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=Hollis |first=Ira Nelson |year=1900 |title=The Frigate Constitution The Central Figure of the Navy Under Sail |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5cSZnYakpxwC/page/n340 |publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|Houghton, Mifflin and Company]], [[Riverside Insights|The Riverside Press]] |location=Boston; New York; Cambridge, UK |page=263 |ref=none}}
* {{cite magazine |title=Naval History of the Present Year, 1813 (February—March) Retrospective and Miscellaneous |url=https://archive.org/details/navalchroniclefounse_1 |magazine=[[Naval Chronicle]] |volume=29 |publisher=Joyce Gold |pages=[https://archive.org/details/navalchroniclefounse_1/page/402/mode/2up 402–408] |access-date=26 May 2022}}
* {{cite book |last=Roosevelt |first=Theodore |author-link=Theodore Roosevelt |year=1883 |title=The Naval War of 1812 |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Fb1CAAAAYAAJ/page/n579 |page=541 |location=New York |publisher=G. P. Putnam's Sons |isbn=0-945-72658-9 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=Winfield |first=Rif |year=2008 |title=British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |isbn=978-1-861-76246-7 |ref=none}}

== External links ==
* {{Wikisource inline}}

{{Battles of the War of 1812}}
{{1812 shipwrecks}}
{{1813 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Java (1811)}}
[[Category:1808 ships]]
[[Category:Captured ships]]
[[Category:Frigates of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1812]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1813]]
[[Category:Naval battles of the War of 1812]]
[[Category:Pallas-class frigates (1808)]]
[[Category:Ships built in France]]
[[Category:War of 1812 ships of the United Kingdom]]