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La Grande Biche | 19631 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal Guns | 22 | BWAS-1714 | |
| Nationality | Royaume de France | ||
| Operator | Private Owners | ||
| First Mentioned | 20.4.1745 | ref:1846 | |
| First Commissioned | 1747 | BWAS-1714 | |
| Home Port | Saint-Malo | ref:1846 | |
| Shipyard | Unknown | BWAS-1714 | |
| Category | Privateer | BWAS-1714 | |
| Ship Type | Unknown | BWAS-1714 | |
| Captured | 27.2.1747 | BWAS-1714 | |
The same day (4th marsh 1747) also arrived at Portsmouth, a French Privateer, called the Grand Biche, of 22 guns and 160 men, which was taken on the 27th of last Month, in sight of Ushant, by Capt. Campbell, in his Majesty's Ship the Bellona, after a chace of 4 or 5 hours, and firing about 14 guns at her.
An affidavit of 20th April,1745 states that when the Dreadnought was attacked by the privateer Grande Biche of St. Malo the crew maintained an obstinate fight on deck for nearly four hours, when they were boarded and obliged to retire to close quarters. On Captain Read being killed, the chief mate, Edward Leicester, took command, and fought the ship for nearly an hour afterwards, till the people abaft, being almost suffocated with stink-pots and hand grenades, thrown in amongst them through a small scuttle that had been left open, called out for quarter, saying they would be blown up, the ship being actually on fire and the cry of “Fire” raised in the gunroom.