Capture of HMS Frolic The capture of HMS " Frolic " was a naval action fought in the Atlantic on 18 October 1812 , between the sloop - of - war USS " Wasp " , commanded by Master Commandant Jacob Jones , and the Cruizer class brig - sloop HM Brig " Frolic " , under Commander Thomas Whinyates . The Americans captured the British vessel , but both vessels were damaged and were captured shortly after by a British ship of the line which happened on the scene . Prelude . On 12 September 1812 , a convoy of fourteen British merchant vessels left the Gulf of Honduras , bound for Britain and escorted by the " Frolic " . On 16 October , about north of Bermuda , the convoy was scattered by a gale . The " Frolic " s rigging was damaged , the main yard being carried away . During 17 October , the crew of the " Frolic " made some repairs , and by dark , six of the merchant sail had rejoined . The American sloop of war USS " Wasp " had sailed from the Delaware River on 13 October and had run south - east to intercept ships sailing between Britain and the West Indies . It too had been slightly damaged by the gale on 16 October , losing its jib boom . At 11 : 30 pm on 17 October , the crew spotted several sail to the leeward ( downwind ) . Jacob Jones , commanding the " Wasp " , kept his distance during the night , but at dawn he identified them as merchantmen , with a Royal Navy brig between them and " Wasp " ( although Whinyates had hoisted Spanish ensigns in an attempt to lure " Wasp " within range ) . Battle . Although the weather had cleared , there was still a strong wind blowing and a heavy sea . Both vessels shortened sail and prepared for action . The crew of " Frolic " took down the jury mainyard and lashed it to the deck . Since both vessels carried a main armament of short - range carronade s , there was no attempt at manoeuvering to gain advantage before the fight ; instead , they closed to " within hail " ( 60 yards ) and opened fire at 11 : 30 am , with the " Wasp " to the starboard and slightly to windward and the " Frolic " to port . The " Wasp " s crew fired low , into their opponent ' s hull , while the " Frolic " s gunners fired high , unusually for the Royal Navy , to disable their enemy ' s rigging . As the action continued , the ships closed together , until the American gunners struck the sides of the " Frolic " with their rammers as they reloaded . After 22 minutes , " Wasp " s rigging was badly damaged , with the main topmast , mizzen topgallant mast and gaff being shot away , and almost every brace severed , making the ship unmanageable . The " Frolic " was even more heavily damaged , and the crew had suffered very heavy casualties . With both vessels incapable of being handled , the " Wasp " drew slightly ahead and the " Frolic " collided with the American ship . The " Wasp " fired a final raking broadside which delivered the " Coup de grâce " . At 11 : 52 am , American sailors boarded the " Frolic " to find that every British officer and over half the crew , 90 men , were wounded or dead . The Americans themselves had suffered only 10 casualties . Although it was acknowledged that the British crew had fought to their utmost , it was clear that the American gunnery had been far superior to that of the British . Aftermath . Shortly after the fighting ended , both the " Frolic " s masts fell . An American prize crew went aboard the " Frolic " and attempted to repair the rigging , but a few hours later a British ship of the line , HMS " Poictiers " , commanded by Captain John Beresford , came into view . " Frolic " was still unmanageable , and with its damaged rigging " Wasp " was soon overtaken and surrendered in the face of impossible odds . Beresford was due to join the fleet blockading the American coast , but thought it necessary to collect " Frolic " s convoy and take them to Bermuda , where they were forced to remain for several days until another escort could be found . Master Commandant Jacob Jones and his crew were soon released by an exchange of prisoners . Jones was promoted and appointed to command USS " Macedonian " , which had been captured from the Royal Navy on 25 October . He later served as second in command to Commodore Isaac Chauncey on Lake Ontario . " Frolic " had been too badly damaged to fight again and was broken up in November 1813 . " Wasp " briefly served in the Royal Navy as HMS " Peacock " , but was wrecked in 1814 .