British Virgin Islands Ships: HMS Astrea - 2022 Virenium® $1 Coin - BVI

HMS Astrea had not been in commission long when she saw action for the first time. The American War of Independence was still lingering on and in its wake hostilities had broken out between Britain and the major powers on the continent. In December 1782, Astrea played a relatively minor role alongside a small British fleet in the fight and subsequent capture of the 40-gun American frigate ‘South Carolina’. Her first real triumph didn’t happen until the 10th of April, 1795 when she captured the larger 42-gun French frigate ‘La Glorie’ during the French war. At the time HMS Astrea was commanded by Captain Lord Henry Paulet and she carried a crew of 212 men, whereas ‘La Glorie’ carried a crew of 280 men. The first gun was fired at sunset and only after a long and severe battle did the French frigate strike her colours just before midnight. In 1796, HMS Astrea was then dispatched to the West Indies with a large convoy where she eventually participated in the capture of St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Grenada from the French. Shortly thereafter the greater part of the British fleet was withdrawn altogether from this part of the world. In 1808, commanded by Captain Edmund Heywood, Astrea escorted the mail packet ship ‘Prince Earnest’ past the danger of Caribbean privateers. Heywood, thinking that Anegada was Puerto Rico, wrecked upon the deadly horseshoe reef on 23 March.