Serapis Captured in Greatest American Sea Victory of War
Which is true of this battle?
A. The Bonhomme Richard was unharmed.
B. The Serapis was larger than the Bonhomme Richard.
C. The Serapis was sunken by cannon fire.
D. The battle took place off the coast of New York.
In the battle between the Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis, the correct statement is:
B. The Serapis was larger than the Bonhomme Richard.
To determine which statement is true regarding the battle in which Serapis was captured in the greatest American sea victory of war, we can follow a few steps:
Step 1: Identify the battle being referred to. The question mentions the capture of Serapis, so we can deduce that the battle in question is the Battle of Flamborough Head. This battle took place during the American Revolutionary War on September 23, 1779.
Step 2: Analyze each statement to determine its accuracy:
A. The Bonhomme Richard was unharmed: This statement is false. During the battle, the Bonhomme Richard suffered significant damage from cannon fire. In fact, it was heavily damaged and eventually sank, although it was able to inflict enough damage on Serapis to secure victory.
B. The Serapis was larger than the Bonhomme Richard: This statement is true. The Serapis was a British warship, and it was indeed larger and more heavily armed than the Bonhomme Richard, which was an American ship.
C. The Serapis was sunken by cannon fire: This statement is false. Although the Serapis sustained severe damage during the battle from the Bonhomme Richard's cannons, it did not sink. Eventually, it surrendered to the Americans after being disabled and rendered unable to continue fighting.
D. The battle took place off the coast of New York: This statement is false. The Battle of Flamborough Head occurred off the coast of northeast England, near Yorkshire. It was fought in the North Sea.
Based on this analysis, the correct statement is B. The Serapis was larger than the Bonhomme Richard.
If you can't read your text materials for some reason, click on this to find your answers:
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/navalbattles16001800/p/bonhomme.htm