| Sinking of HMSAvon | |||||||
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| Part of theWar of 1812 | |||||||
 The Wasp’s Engagement with the Avon on September 1, 1814 Carlton T. Chapman, 1896 | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |  United Kingdom | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Johnston Blakeley | James Arbuthnot  | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Sloop-of-warWasp | Brig-sloopAvon Brig-sloopCastilian | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 3 wounded | 10 killed 29 wounded Avon sunk | ||||||
Thesinking of HMSAvon was asingle ship action fought during theWar of 1812, and took place on 1 September 1814. In the battle, the ship-riggedsloop of warUSS Wasp forced theCruizer-classbrig-sloopHMS Avon to surrender. The Americans could not take possession of the prize as other British brig-sloops appeared and prepared to engage.Avon sank shortly after the battle.
The heavy sloop of war USSWasp had spent seven weeks inLorient in France, making repairs after an earlier hard-fought action againstHMSReindeer, and replacing casualties from the crews of Americanprivateers in the port.Wasp sortied on 27 August, and almost immediately was involved in action. Early on 1 September, a convoy of ten merchant ships escorted by theship of the lineHMS Armada was encountered.Wasp made repeated attacks and succeeded in capturing one ship loaded with iron, brass and arms.[1]
Later that day, as night was falling, Master CommandantJohnston Blakeley, commandingWasp, spotted four other unknown sail, and made for the nearest.
The unknown vessel was theCruizer-class brig-sloopHMS Avon, mounting sixteen 32-pounder carronades and two 6-pounder long guns.Wasp carried twenty-two 32-poundercarronades, two 12-pounder chase guns and a 12-pounder boat carronade removed fromReindeer. AsWasp approachedAvon's quarter, the two vessels exchanged several hails, in which the Americans demanded that the British vesselheave to, and also exchanged shots from their bow and stern chase guns. Blakeley eventually drew up alongsideAvon, deliberately selecting the leeward position to preventAvon escaping downwind.
It was fully dark by this time, the wind was fresh and the sea was fairly rough. Nevertheless, the American gunners were very accurate. After half an hour,Avon had been partly dismasted, one third of her crew were casualties and her guns had been silenced, many of the broadside carronades being dismounted. By contrast, although the battle took place at such short range that one American sailor was struck by wadding from a British carronade, only four shot struck the hull ofWasp and only three American sailors were wounded.[2]
Three quarters of an hour after the start of the battle,Avon surrendered. While the crew ofWasp were lowering a boat to take possession, another unknown vessel was seen approaching, followed by two more.Wasp made away downwind while the braces which had been shot away were replaced. The nearest pursuer was the British brig-sloopHMS Castilian. The brig got close enough to fire an inaccurate broadside overWasp's quarter, butAvon had been making repeated distress signals, andCastilian broke off to help.Avon's crew was taken off, and the shattered brig sank soon afterwards.[2]
Wasp continued to cruise west of the mouth of theEnglish Channel. On 21 September, it met with a neutralSwedish merchant vessel, on board of which were two officers from the frigateUSS Essex, which had been captured the previous year off the coast ofChile. Some of the officers from the prizes taken earlier byWasp were put aboard the Swedish ship. After the two vessels parted,Wasp vanished, and was presumed lost to bad weather south of theAzores.
The released prisoners brought news of the one-sided nature of the action betweenWasp andAvon to Britain. This caused calls to be made for larger, better-armed sloops and brigs to be built, without taking into consideration the far more effective American gunnery.[3]
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