Page 24 - Bulletin 22 2019

21

The position of the Bata is often confused with that of the Brunswick which lies in close

proximity. (Fig. 1.24.) Neither of these two ships shows signs of having had a fire onboard
and I believe that the burnt timber in Simon’s Town harbour would most likely be her present

position, because she was guarding the approaches to the naval base. This would then mean
that the ship lying close to the Brunswick could well be the Hollandia.

Third rate ships of the line carried between 200 and 300 men and were slightly larger than

frigates. They had 60 - 80 guns mounted on two or three decks. They were commonly used to
defend ports or to bomb fortifications and were rarely used in battle.

Frigates, or fourth rate ships, were used as convoy escorts. They were fast and carried 30 - 50
guns on two decks, but were not used in battle.

Second rate ships were larger ships with 90 - 98 guns and a crew of 750.

First rate ships were used as flag ships. They carried 100-plus guns mounted on three to four
decks and had a crew of 750 men. These ships would cause serious damage and were able to

take quite a beating.

Brunswick, an East Indiaman of 1,100 tons, was launched in 1792. (Fig. 1.25.) She had made
five complete voyages for the EEIC before she was captured by the French in 1805. In

January 1805 she underwent major repairs to leaks she had picked up after grounding on the

previous voyage. She sailed into Bombay for the repairs. By the time they had been
completed by French prisoners of war, it was too late to sail back to England. The Bombay

government decided to place the French prisoners on the cartel prime (Brunswick) and they
were sent to Ile de France (Mauritius).

th
th
In international law during the 18 and 19 century ships were employed on humanitarian
voyages to carry prisoners for exchange between places agreed upon in the terms of the
exchange. While serving in a cartel a ship was not subject to capture. The cartel protection

extended to the return voyage. Prisoners taken for exchange were under an obligation not to
engage in hostilities toward their captors.

The French Admiral Linois on his flagship Marengo heard of the imminent departure and

probable route of the Brunswick. On 11 July 1805, while sailing past Pointe de Galle (Sri
Lanka), the Marengo captured the Brunswick. On 18 July 1805 the Brunswick departed for