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ASIA
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(84) |
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Built in 1824, Bombay.
Sold in 1908. |
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- 1826 Capt. Edward CURZON, 10/1826, Portsmouth, where she was fitting out as flagship for Sir Edward CODRINGTON, Mediterranean.
- On 20 October 1827 the combined fleet of British, French and Russian warships entered the bay of Navarino near the S. W. point of Morea.
The Turco/Egyptian ships were moored in a crescent the larger ones presenting their broadsides towards the centre. ASIA led in the starboard line of British and French ships followed by GENOA and ALBION and she anchored alongside a ship of the line bearing the flag of the Capitan Bey and a large double-banked frigate with the flag of the Egyptian Moharem Bey. The French ships and the Russians in the other column each took up positions alongside other enemy vessels.
Vice Ad. CODRINGTON ordered that no gun should be fired unless the Turks fired first but, after musket fire on one of DARTMOUTH's boats and cannon shot from an Egyptian vessel, the battle developed. When ASIA's pilot, Mr Peter MITCHELL, was killed by fire from the frigate while alongside in his boat the ships of the Turkish and Egyptian admirals were destroyed by the broadsides from ASIA. The ship then came under heavy raking fire from the enemy vessels in the inner lines and her mizzen mast was shot away. The master, Mr William SMITH was killed early on as was Capt. Bell of the Royal Marines. The admiral was struck by a musket ball which was deflected by his pocket-watch and when his aides were disabled Lieut. Col. Craddock volunteered to act as his runner.
ASIA lost 19 killed and 57 wounded. - For his conduct at Navarino Capt. CURZON was nominated a C. B. on 13 November 1827.
ASIA returned home on 31 January 1828 to be docked for a refit but Capt. CURZON retained command until the following 6 June. - 1828 Capt. William Hope JOHNSTONE, 06/1828. Portsmouth for Mediterranean as flagship for Sir Pulteney MALCOLM, the Commander in Chief. The Admiral and Capt. JOHNSTONE removed into BRITANNIA on 28 April 1830.
- 1831 Capt. Hyde PARKER, 02/1831.
- 1832 Capt. Peter RICHARDS, 12/1831, flag of Rear Ad. William PARKER at Lisbon, where the war between Dom Pedro and Dom Miguel was interfering with British trade
In the autumn of 1832 a spent ball grazed the shoulder of Cdr. William PICKERING and his companion, Mr VIDAL, the purser, received a ball in the body, as they watched an attack by the Miguelite forces on Don Pedro's lines near Oporto.
ASIA paid off in the summer of 1834. - 1835 Out of commission at Sheerness.
- 1837 Capt. William FISHER, 03/1836, Mediterranean.
- On 8 July 1837 ASIA was standing out to sea from Cagliari in Sardinia when a seaman jumped overboard while drunk.
While the ship was being hove to and the boats launched, the assistant surgeon, Mr Henry Daniel SHEA, dropped into the sea from the spanker-boom and kept the man afloat despite his struggles. - ASIA took part in the operations off Syria in 1840.
- 1842 Sheerness.
- 1847 Capt. Robert F. STOPFORD, 08/1847, Flag ship of Rear Ad. HORNBY in the Pacific with COCKATRICE as her tender.
- In August 1850 ASIA was on passage from Valparaiso in Chile to Pisco, about 130 miles south of Callao in Peru.
On the 7th. she was about 400 miles south of her destination and while the watch was exercising furling sails at about 6 PM
two men fell from the main-top-sail yard. One man caught hold of a rope and was pulled back on board unhurt but the other hit his head and fell senseless in to the water. Lieut. Chandos STANHOPE, seeing his helpless state, jumped overboard and supported him to a life-buoy where they waited until a boat arrived. - In 1852 ASIA was out of commission at Portsmouth and from 1859 she was used as Guard Ship of the steam vessels in ordinary at that port under Capt. George GORDON.
Vice Ad. CODRINGTON's Official Letter on the Battle of Navarino.
His Majesty's ship Asia, in the Port of Nevarin,(*) Oct. 21, 1827.
I have the honour to inform his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral that my colleagues, Count Heiden and the Chevalier de Rigny, having agreed with me that we should come into this port, in order to induce Ibrahim Pacha to discontinue the brutal war of extermination, which he has been carrying on since his return here from his failure in the gulf of Patras, the combined squadrons passed the batteries, in order to take up their anchorage, at about two o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The Turkish ships were moored in the form of a crescent, with springs on their cables, the larger ones presenting their broadsides towards the centre, the smaller ones, in succession within them, filling up the intervals.
The combined fleet was formed in the order of sailing in two columns, the British and French forming the weather or starboard line, and the Russian the lee line.
The Asia led in, followed by the Genoa and Albion, and anchored close alongside a ship of the line, bearing the flag of the Capitan Bey, another ship of the line, and a large double-banked frigate, each thus having their opponent in the front line of the Turkish fleet.
The four ships to windward, part of the Egyptian squadron, were allotted to the squadron of Rear-Admiral de Rigny; and those to leeward in the bight of the crescent, were to mark the stations of the whole Russian squadron; the ships of their line closing those of the English line, and being followed up by their own frigates.
The French frigate Armide, was directed to place herself alongside the outermost frigate, on the left hand entering the harbour and the Cambrian, Glasgow, and Talbot next to her, and abreast of the Asia, Genoa, and Albion; the Dartmouth and the Musquito, the Rose, the Brisk, and the Philomel, were to look after six fire-vessels, at the entrance of the harbour: I gave orders that no gun should be fired, unless guns were first fired by the Turks; and those orders were strictly observed.
The three English ships were accordingly permitted to pass the batteries and to moor, which they did with great rapidity, without any act of open hostility, although there was evident preparation for it in all the Turkish ships; but upon the Dartmouth sending a boat to one of the fire-vessels.
Lieut. G. W. H. Fitzroy (**) and several of her crew, were shot with musketry. This produced a defensive fire from the Dartmouth and la Syrene, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral De Rigny, that was succeeded by a cannon-shot at the Rear Admiral from one of the Egyptian ships, which of course, brought on a return, and thus, very shortly afterwards; the battle became general.
The Asia, although placed along side the ship of the Capitan Bey, was even nearer to that of Moharem Bey, the commander of the Egyptian ships and since his ship did not fire at the Asia, although the action was begun to windward neither did the Asia fire at her.
The latter, indeed, sent a message, "that he would not fire at all," and therefore no hostility took place betwixt our ships for some time after the Asia had returned the fire of the Capitan Bey.
In the mean time, however, our excellent pilot, Mr Peter Mitchell who went to interpret to Moharem my desire to avoid bloodshed, was killed by his people in our boat along side, whether with or without his orders, I know not; but his ship soon afterwards fired into the Asia and was, consequently, effectually destroyed by the Asia's fire, sharing the same fate as his brother admiral, on the starboard side; and falling to leeward a mere wreck These ships being out of the way the Asia became exposed to a raking fire from vessels in the second and third line, which carried away her mizzen-mast by the board, disabled some of her guns, and killed and wounded several of her crew.
This narration of the proceedings of the Asia would probably be equally applicable to most of the other ships of the fleet.
The manner in which the.
Genoa and Albion took their stations was beautiful; and the conduct of my brother admirals, Count Heiden and the Chevalier De Rigny, throughout, was admirable and highly exemplary.
Captain Fellowes executed the part allotted to him perfectly; and with the able assistance of his little but brave detachment, saved the Syrene from being burnt by the fire vessels, and the Cambrian, Glasgow, and Talbot, following the fine example of Capitaine Hugon of the Armide, who, was opposed to the leading frigate of that line, effectually destroyed their opponents, and also silenced the batteries.
This bloody and destructive battle was continued with unabated fury for four hours; and the scene of wreck and devastation which presented itself at its termination, was such as has been seldom before witnessed.
As each ship of our opponents became effectually disabled, such of her crew as could escape from her endeavoured to set her on fire; and it is wonderful how we avoided the effects of their successive and awful explosions.
It is impossible for me to say too much for the able and zealous assistance which I derived from Captain Curzon, throughout this long and arduous contest; nor can say more than it deserves for the conduct of Commander Baynes and the officers and crew of the Asia, for the perfection with which the fire of their guns was directed; each vessel in turn; to which her broadside was presented, became a complete wreck.
His Royal Highness will be aware that so complete a victory by a few, however perfect, against an excessive number, however individually inferior cannot be acquired but at a considerable sacrifice of life; accordingly, I have to lament the loss of Captain Bathurst, of the Genoa, whose example on this occasion is well worthy of the imitation of his survivors.
Captain Bell, commanding the royal marines of the Asia, an excellent officer, was killed early in the action, in the steady performance of his duty and I have to mourn the death of Mr. William Smith, The master, admired for the zeal and ability with which he executed his duty, and beloved by all for his private qualities as a man.
Mr. L. S. Dyer, my secretary, hawing received a severe contusion from a splinter, I am deprived temporarily of his valuable assistance in collecting and keeping up the general returns and communications of the squadron: I shall, therefore, retain my office Mr. F. J. T. White, his first clerk, whom I have nominated to succeed the purser of the Brisk.
I feel much personal obligation to the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Craddock, for his readiness, during the heat of the battle, in carrying my orders and messages to the different quarters, after my aides-de-camp were disabled; but I will beg permission to refer his Royal Highness for further particulars of this sort to the details of the killed and ¬wounded, a subject which it is painful for me to dwell upon; when I contemplate, as I do with extreme sorrow, the extent of our loss.
I console myself with the reflection, that the measure which produced the battle was absolutely necessary for obtaining the results contemplated by the treaty, and that it was brought on entirely by our opponents. When I found that the boasted Ottoman word of honour was made a sacrifice to wanton savage devastation, and that a base advantage was taken of our reliance upon Ibrahim's good faith, I own I felt a desire to punish the offenders.
But it was my duty to refrain, and refrain I did; and I can assure his Royal Highness that I would still have avoided this disastrous extremity, if other means had been open to me.
The Asia, Genoa, and Albion, have each suffered so much, that it is my intention to send them to England as soon as they shall have received, at Malta, the necessary repairs for their voyage.
The Talbot, being closely engaged with a double banked frigate, has also suffered considerably, as well as others of the smaller vessels; but I hope their defects are not more than can be made good good at Malta.
The loss of men in the Turco-Egyptian ships must have been immense, as his Royal Highness will see by the accompanying list, obtained from the secretary of the Capitan Bey, which includes that of two out of the three ships to which the English division was opposed.
Captain Curzon having preferred continuing to assist me in the Asia, I have given the charge of my despatches to Commander Lord Viscount Ingestre, who, besides having had a brilliant share of the action, is well competent to give his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral any further particulars he may require. Ó
(Signed) EDWARD CODRINGTON, Vice-Admiral.
(*) Navarino, the Pylos of the ancients, and the supposed birth-place of the venerable Nestor, is situated about 10 miles from Modon; and, consequently, near the most S. W. point of the Morea.
(**) Second son of General the Hon. William Fitzroy, of Kempston Lodge, Norfolk.
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