 
Dates: 1798 - 1865 On 21 October 1805, under the command of Captain Richard King, Achille was in Admiral Collingwood’s column at the Battle of Trafalgar, seventh in the line, between Colossus and Revenge. Achille opened fire on the rear of the French and Spanish fleet at 12.15, engaging the Montanes, 74, for fifteen minutes, before sailing on to meet the Argonauta, 80, which had already been battling with other British ships. After hours of fierce fighting, Argonauta fell silent and closed her gunports, but before Achille could accept her surrender, her French namesake Achille, 74, moved in to engage the British ship. After exchanging broadsides, the French ship sailed on and was replaced on the starboard side by the Berwick, 74, and for the next hour and a quarter she lay close alongside Achille, receiving a pounding that eventually forced her to surrender with over 250 casualties - almost half her crew. Achille took possession, and transferred some of her crew back on board as prisoners. Achille suffered 13 killed and 59 wounded in the battle, in stark comparison to the heavy losses she inflicted on her French and Spanish adversaries. On 17 July 1812, boats from Achille and Cerberus captured or destroyed 12 enemy trabaccolos off Venice. She continued in active service until 1815, when she was decommissioned at Chatham, and laid up at Sheerness. She survived in this state until 1865, when she was sold for £3,600 to be broken up.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Achille
" Forces Reunited has received the following message from our Member Edward Grey (ex-RN 1969-93: Devonport, Fleet Air Arm, HMS Achilles) in Canada. I live in Canada and my buddy Frank, 28 years Catering Corps., Brit as myself, has only a couple of months left to live. Cancer got him. He ..."
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" Not stories as such, but genuine recollections of an unusual service career! There have been a few memorable naval bits, as you could imagine, and this is one. HMS Achilles was originally built for the Royal Navy, and was commissioned as HMS Achilles on October 10, 1933. She served with the ..."
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" Hello there, I am a new member and I am looking to get in contact with anyone that took part in the Battle of the River Plate in 1939, either aboard the: HMS Exeter HMS AJAX HMS Achilles If anyone knows of anyone then please let me know, I would really appreciate it. Thanks. Alex "
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" Hello everyone, Sorry if you are reading this again, I posted it in the New Members section, but I thought more people would see it on this part of the forum. I am currently researching the Battle of the River Plate and am looking to get in contact with anyone that served in the battle, either ..."
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" HMS Achilles, was 60 per cent manned by New Zealanders, as was her sister ship HMS Neptune. I believe there was an Achilles Association in Auckland for a number of years. Achilles became HMNZS Achilles in 1941, and was subsequently sold to the Indian Navy and became INS Delhi. When she was ..."
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Pictures of HMS Achille
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