Action of 30 September 1780

Action of 30 September 1780
Part of the American Revolutionary War
The Pearl taking Esperance - 30 Sep 1780
Date 30 September 1780 Location off the Bermudas Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
George Montagu	unknown
Strength
1 Frigate HMS Pearl	1 frigate Espérance
Casualties and losses
6 killed, 10 wounded	20 killed, 24 wounded 156 captured, 1 frigate captured

The action of 30 September 1780 was a minor naval engagement off the Bermudas, where HMS Pearl captured Espérance, a French frigate of 32 guns launched in 1779.^[1]

HMS Pearl under the command of George Montagu was sent out to North America, and on 30 September 1780, soon encountered a frigate off the Bermudas. As Pearl closed Montagu cleared for action and engaged close for two hours, then maintained a running fight for a further two hours and more when the frigate struck.^[2][3]

The prize turned out to be the French frigate Espérance of about 850 tons of thirty-two guns consisting of twelve- and six-pounders, nearly 200 men and with a valuable cargo heading from Cape Francois to Bordeaux. Espérance lost 20 killed and 24 wounded as well as the crew and marines captured, while Pearl's losses were six killed and ten wounded. The captured French frigate was put into Royal Naval service and renamed HMS Clinton.^[4]