USS Bon Homme Richard

While the modern version of the USS Bon Homme Richard is still in danger of being completely destroyed by fire, there is a long, proud history behind the name of that ship that goes back to the Revolutionary War.

Per the US Navy’s history section, the story begins with an 18th century wooden-hulled frigate.

The Frigate BonHomme Richard

In 1765, a 900-ton merchant vessel, DUC DE DURAS, was built in France for the East India Company. The ship was used for trading between France and the Orient. Ten years later, the ship would play a historic role in America’s fight for independence.

As the Revolutionary War raged on in the Colonies, the newly founded Continental Congress began gathering a small navy. By cutting down the English war efforts in North America this became immediate success. Those successes prompted the Continental Congress to send Benjamin Franklin, as an Ambassador in 1777, to advise the French Court and garner more European support efforts for the American war. In 1779, the King of France donated to the American cause the DUC DE DURAS,

On February 4, 1779, the Continental Congress placed this fleet under the command of the Captain John Paul Jones. Swiftly, Jones refitted the DUC DE DURAS increasing her firepower to 20 guns a side, and renamed her BONHOMME RICHARD; in honor of both America and France.

Captain John Paul Jones chose the Pen Name of Benjamin Franklin, the Ambassador to France, and author of “Poor Richard’s Almanac.” This early 18th century journal urged men to seek out roles in the public sphere and shape their own destinies. Clearly, his journal helped forge the will that resulted in the American Revolution.

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The Battle against HMS Serapis

On June 19, 1779, Jones sailed BONHOMME RICHARD from L’ Orient, France accompanied by ALLIANCE, PALLAS, VEGEANCE, and CERF. Their mission was to escort troop transports and merchant vessels under the convoy to Bordeaux, France, and cruise against the British in the Bay of Biscay. Forced to return to port for repairs, Jones’ squadron sailed again on August 14, 1779. Going northwest around the British Isles into the Northern Sea and down the eastern seaboard of Great Britain, the squadron swiftly took 16 merchant vessels as prizes. On the evening of September 23, 1779, they encountered the Baltic Fleet of 41 near the English shore of Flamborough Head. Sailing for England, the Fleet was under the fleet of the newly built frigate, HMS SERAPIS (50 guns) and the small sloop of COUNTESS OF SCARBOROUGH (20 GUNS).

Before the British fleet could respond, BON HOMME RICHARD lashed out at SERAPIS igniting a bitter struggle that would last the entire night. Early in the battle, the guns of Jones’ main battery exploded, temporarily disabling his ship.

To offset the SERAPIS’ speed, Jones lashed his flagship alongside and continued the fight long after his subordinates regarded the situation as hopeless.

Burning, sinking, and scattered with the dead and wounded, BONHOMME RICHARD lit up the darkness with a constant barrage. Jones struggled to keep his vessel afloat and, in one instance, an overwhelming number of prisoners in hold threatened to rush the deck to save from drowning. Jones defied all odds and continued the fight against Captain Pearson’s SERAPIS.

In the final hour, BONHOMME RICHARD’S mast was hit above the top-sail. Along with her Colors, a large section of the mast came crashing to the deck near Jones’s feet. In response to the downfallen colors, SERAPIS called out, “Have you struck your Colors?” Resoundingly, John Paul Jones exclaimed, “Struck Sir? I have not yet begun to fight!” With newfound will, his crew delivered decisive blows from all sides and aloft. Jones’ sent 40 Marines and Sailors into the rigging with grenades and muskets.

Decimated, SERAPIS could not avoid defeat and at 2230 she struck her Colors. Victorious, John Paul Jones commandeered SERAPIS and sailed her to Holland for repairs. Sadly, on September 24, 1779 at 1100, BONHOMME RICHARD sank never to rise from her watery grave.

This epic battle was the American Navy’s first-ever defeat of an English ship in English waters! Rallying colonial hope for freedom, Jones’ victory established him to many as “The Father of the American Navy.”

In the modern era, the design and building of Navy ships changed to steel and long range guns.

The rest of the story is here:  https://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lhd6/pages/history.aspx

While I am hoping that the fire will be controlled, the report from the news last night was the temperatures near the fires were as high as 1200F.

The Navy is considering moving to somewhat smaller vessels that are capable of launching aircraft and carrying heavy loads, which is what the current construction is producing on ships of this size.

I’m not saying this ship’s condition is beyond hopeless, but I believe it is time to find a good strong tug and haul the ship out to sea, and send her to Davy Jones’s locker.  I know that one of our pigboats can do the job, and do it well.

Category: Navy