On this day 9 March

On March 9 1797, the HMS St. Fiorenzo and the HMS Nymphe captured the French frigate Résistance and corvette Constance en route to Brest. British captains Harry Burrard-Neale and John Cooke spotted the two French ships returning from the unsuccessful raid on Fishguard. Neale, commanding the 38-gun frigate St. Fiorenzo, and Cooke, commanding the 36-gun frigate Nymphe, pursued the French ships, and after 30 minutes of engagement, defeated them without sustaining a single casualty. The Royal Navy renamed the 48-gun Résistance as the HMS Fisgard, while retaining the name of the 24-gun Constance.

Captain Harry Burrard-Neale:
Attachment 2331

Captain John Cooke:
Attachment 2332

The Engagement:
Attachment 2333


For more information on today's event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_St_Fiorenzo_(1794)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Nymphe_(1780)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Co..._Navy_officer)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Burrard-Neale