Action of 12 December 1782
| Action of 12 December 1782 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
H.M.S. Mediator about to attack an enemy convoy off Cape Ortegal, 12th December 1782, Robert Cleveley | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Great Britain |
France United States | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| James Luttrell | Nicolas Baudin | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1 frigate |
1 ship of the line 1 frigate 1 armed transport 2 privateers | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 7 killed or wounded |
9 killed 16 wounded 340 captured 1 ship of the line captured 1 privateer captured | ||||||
The action of 12 December 1782 was a naval engagement fought off the coast of Spain near Ferrol, in which the British 40-gun fifth rate HMS Mediator successfully attacked a convoy of five armed ships. Mediator succeeded in capturing one American privateer, the Alexander, and then captured the French ex-ship of the line La Ménagère. The convoy was part of Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais' supply chain to the American colonists.