A Napoleonic frigate repeatedly changing hands

Which ship changed hands the most times through capture and recapture?

He recalls a Napoleonic Wars frigate that was captured and recaptured repeatedly, including changes of hands within the same mission.

The exchange underlines how vulnerable even commissioned warships could be to boarding, surrender, and rapid reversals during close operations. A Napoleonic Wars frigate reportedly changed hands repeatedly, including capture and recovery within the same mission. Rather than treating a prize as permanently settled, the example shows that control could remain contested while an action was still unfolding. Taking a ship and successfully securing or sailing away with it were separate operational problems.