Action of 12 December 1782

Action of 12 December 1782
Part of the American Revolutionary War

HMS 'Mediator' Engaging French and American Vessels
Thomas Luny, 1783
Date12 December 1782
Location43°28′16″N 8°15′07″W / 43.471°N 8.252°W / 43.471; -8.252
Result British victory
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.