I think I’ll take the Navy’s word for it over Wikipedia:
https://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lhd6/Pages/history.aspx
.Burning, sinking, and scattered with the dead and wounded, BONHOMME RICHARD lit up the darkness with a constant barrage. Jones struggled to keep his vessel afloat and, in one instance, an overwhelming number of prisoners in hold threatened to rush the deck to save from drowning. Jones defied all odds and continued the fight against Captain Pearson’s SERAPIS.
In the final hour, BONHOMME RICHARD’S mast was hit above the top-sail. Along with her Colors, a large section of the mast came crashing to the deck near Joness feet. In response to the downfallen colors, SERAPIS called out, “Have you struck your Colors?” Resoundingly, John Paul Jones exclaimed, “Struck Sir? I have not yet begun to fight!” With newfound will, his crew delivered decisive blows from all sides and aloft. Jones’ sent 40 Marines and Sailors into the rigging with grenades and muskets.
Decimated, SERAPIS could not avoid defeat and at 2230 she struck her Colors. Victorious, John Paul Jones commandeered SERAPIS and sailed her to Holland for repairs. Sadly, on September 24, 1779 at 1100, BONHOMME RICHARD sank never to rise from her watery grave.
I think Ill take the Navys word for it over Wikipedia:
https://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lhd6/Pages/history.aspx
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I see nothing about the Serapis fate. Please point it out to me.
I think Laplata was referring to what happened to the Serapis after the battle.
We were discussing the fate of the Serapis.
Laplata was referring to HMS Serapis. The wreck appears to have been located off the coast of Madagascar in 22 meters.