HMS Athenienne (1796)

HMS Athenienne was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line in the Royal Navy, originally a French ship named Athénien. She was captured from the French Navy in 1795 and commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1796.

Capture and Commissioning:

The Athénien was built in Toulon, France, and launched in 1794. In March 1795, she was captured off Cape Corse, Corsica, by a squadron of British ships under Vice-Admiral Hotham, specifically by HMS Captain and HMS Inconstant. She was taken to Portsmouth and fitted out for British service, being renamed HMS Athenienne.

Service:

Athenienne served primarily in the Mediterranean. She participated in various convoy escort duties and patrols. Notably, she played a role in the blockade of Malta.

Loss:

On 20 October 1806, while under the command of Captain Robert Raynsford, Athenienne was wrecked on the Esquirques rocks, near Sicily. Despite efforts to launch boats, heavy seas and the proximity of the rocks hindered rescue operations. A large number of her crew, including Captain Raynsford, were lost. Approximately 347 of the crew perished.

Aftermath:

The wreck of Athenienne was a significant loss for the Royal Navy. A court-martial was convened to investigate the circumstances of her loss, and blame was attributed to Captain Raynsford’s navigational errors and a failure to heed local knowledge. The wreck site has since been located and explored by archaeologists.