HMS Arrow (1796): Difference between revisions
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On 25 July 1800 {{HMS|Nemesis|1780|2}} was part of a squadron that also included {{HMS|Terpsichore|1785|2}}, {{HMS|Prévoyante|1793|2}}, ''Arrow'', and the [[hired armed vessels|hired armed]] [[lugger]] [[Hired armed lugger Nile|''Nile'']]. The squadron encountered the Danish frigate [[HDMS Freja (1793)|HDMS ''Freja'']], which was escorting a convoy of two ships, two brigs and two [[galliot]]s.<ref name=NC4/> Captain Baker of ''Nemesis'' hailed ''Freja'' and said that he would send a boat to board the convoy. The Danish captain refused, and said that if a boat approached he would fire on it. Baker sent a midshipman and four men in a boat, and the Danes fired several shots, which missed the boat, but one of which killed a man on ''Nemesis''. ''Nemesis'' then opened fire with her broadside. After an engagement of about 25 minutes, ''Freja'', much damaged, [[striking the colours|struck]]. She had suffered eight men killed and many wounded; both ''Nemesis'' and ''Arrow'' each suffered two men killed and several wounded.<ref>''London Chronicle'', 26–29 July 1800, p.104.</ref> The British brought ''Freya'' and her convoy into the Downs on 6 March.<ref name=NC4>''Naval Chronicle'', Vol. 4, p.157.</ref> They later released her, and presumably the rest of the convoy.<ref group=Note>In 1807, after the [[Battle of Copenhagen (1807)|second battle of Copenhagen]], the British again captured ''Freja''. This time they took her into the Royal Navy as HMS ''Freya''.</ref> This incident led to strained relations with [[Denmark]], and, in order to anticipate any hostile move from [[Copenhagen]], the British government despatched [[Charles Whitworth, 1st Earl Whitworth|Earl Whitworth]] in August on a special mission to Copenhagen. The Danes not being ready for war, his mission staved off hostilities for about a year. |
On 25 July 1800 {{HMS|Nemesis|1780|2}} was part of a squadron that also included {{HMS|Terpsichore|1785|2}}, {{HMS|Prévoyante|1793|2}}, ''Arrow'', and the [[hired armed vessels|hired armed]] [[lugger]] [[Hired armed lugger Nile|''Nile'']]. The squadron encountered the Danish frigate [[HDMS Freja (1793)|HDMS ''Freja'']], which was escorting a convoy of two ships, two brigs and two [[galliot]]s.<ref name=NC4/> Captain Baker of ''Nemesis'' hailed ''Freja'' and said that he would send a boat to board the convoy. The Danish captain refused, and said that if a boat approached he would fire on it. Baker sent a midshipman and four men in a boat, and the Danes fired several shots, which missed the boat, but one of which killed a man on ''Nemesis''. ''Nemesis'' then opened fire with her broadside. After an engagement of about 25 minutes, ''Freja'', much damaged, [[striking the colours|struck]]. She had suffered eight men killed and many wounded; both ''Nemesis'' and ''Arrow'' each suffered two men killed and several wounded.<ref>''London Chronicle'', 26–29 July 1800, p.104.</ref> The British brought ''Freya'' and her convoy into the Downs on 6 March.<ref name=NC4>''Naval Chronicle'', Vol. 4, p.157.</ref> They later released her, and presumably the rest of the convoy.<ref group=Note>In 1807, after the [[Battle of Copenhagen (1807)|second battle of Copenhagen]], the British again captured ''Freja''. This time they took her into the Royal Navy as HMS ''Freya''.</ref> This incident led to strained relations with [[Denmark]], and, in order to anticipate any hostile move from [[Copenhagen]], the British government despatched [[Charles Whitworth, 1st Earl Whitworth|Earl Whitworth]] in August on a special mission to Copenhagen. The Danes not being ready for war, his mission staved off hostilities for about a year. |
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In 1801 |
In 1801 ''Arrow'' came under the command of Commander Thomas-Charles Brodie. He was her captain at the [[Battle of Copenhagen]]. ''Arrow'' suffered no casualties, though her sister ship ''Dart'' had two men killed and one wounded.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=15354|startpage=402|endpage=404|date=15 April 1801}}</ref> |
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<ref>James (1837), Vol. 3, pp. 66-80.</ref> |
<ref>James (1837), Vol. 3, pp. 66-80.</ref> After the battle '"Arrow'' took the dispatches back to England.<ref>''The Gentleman's Magazine'' (May 1811), Vol. 81, Part 1, p.492.</ref> |
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==Napoleonic Wars== |
==Napoleonic Wars== |
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Revision as of 01:17, 14 October 2014
| History | |
|---|---|
 UK | |
| Name | HMS Arrow |
| Builder | Hobbs & Hellyer at Redbridge |
| Commissioned | 1796 |
| Decommissioned | 1805 |
| Honors and awards | Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Arrow 13 Sept 1799"[1] |
| Captured | 4 Feb 1805 |
| Fate | Sank after capture |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Tons burthen | 386 16⁄94 (bm) |
| Length | 128 ft 8 in (39.22 m) (overall); 80 ft 8 in (24.59 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Depth of hold | 7 ft 11 in (2.41 m) |
| Sail plan | Sloop |
| Complement | 121 (later 140) |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) Initially: Upper deck (UD): 24 x 32-pounder carronades |
HMS Arrow was a 28-gun sloop in the Royal Navy. The Admiralty purchased her in 1796. The French captured her on 4 February 1805, and sank her.[3]
Design
Arrow and her sister ship Dart were "Two experimental vessels designed by Samuel Bentham, Esq., at that time inspector-general of his majesty's naval works. They were in shape much sharper than vessels of war in general, and projected or raked forward, at each end like a wherry. Their breadth increased from the water-line upwards ; whereby it was considered that they would be stiffer, and less liable to overset than ordinary vessels. The decks were straight fore and aft, and the frames or ribs of less curvature than usual. They were constructed to carry twenty-four 32-pounder carronades upon the main deck, and were afterwards fitted to receive two more carronades of the same nature on each of their two short decks, which we may call the quarterdeck and forecastle. All these carronades were fitted upon the non-recoil principle. It is believed that both the Arrow and Dart subsequently took on board, for their quarterdecks, two additional 32s. They proved to be stiff vessels and swift sailers, but it was found necessary to add some dead wood to their bottoms, in order to make them stay better. Not knowing exactly what characteristic designation to give the Arrow and Dart, we have merely named them: they must be considered, especially when their force is compared with that of the two or three classes next above them, as extraordinary vessels for sloops of war, but as such only they ranked."[4]
French Revolutionary Wars
Commander Nathaniel Portlock commissioned Arrow in 1796.[5] On 1 June 1797 Arrow captured two French merchant vessels, the Jeune Albe and the Sept Freres.[6] Then on 25 April 1798 Arrow captured the Jonge Ferdinand.[7]
Between April and July 1799 Arrow sailed in company with Wolverine and the hired armed cutter Kent. Together, these three vessels captured a number of prizes. On 23 April they captured Blenie Rosetta.[8] On 29 May they took Active and Providence. One month later, on 28 June, they captured five fishing boats. Then on 13 July they captured the Altona.[8] Three days later they captured the Antony Wilhelm.[8] Lastly, on 29 July, they captured the Nancy.[Note 1]
Next, Wolverine was among the many British vessels that shared in the surrender of the Dutch Fleet at the Vlieter Incident.[9]
On 9 September Vice-Admiral Mitchell detached Arrow and Wolverine to attack a ship and a brig belonging to the Batavian Republic and anchored under the Vlie at the entrance to the Texel. Arrow had to lighten ship and the following day they crossed over the Flack abreast of Wieringen and saw the enemy in the passage leading from Vlie Island towards Harlingen. On 12 September Wolverine anchored within 60 yards of the brig and only had to fire one gun before the brig hauled down her colours. She proved to be the Gier, armed with fourteen 12-pounders. Arrow exchanged broadsides with the ship, Draak, of 24 guns (six 50-pound brass howitzers, two 32-pounder guns, and sixteen long 18-pounder guns), which surrendered when Wolverine came up. Draak turned out to be a sheer hulk so Captain Bolton burnt her. The British also captured two schooners, each of four 8-pounder guns, and four schuyts, each of two 8-pounder guns. The Dutch prisoners numbered 380 men.[10] In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasps "Arrow 13 Sept 1799" and "Wolverine 13 Sept. 1799" to any survivors of the two crews that claimed them.
Arrow and Wolverine weighed on 15 September and Wolverine went to take possession of a Batavian ship, the 24-gun Dolphin (Dolfijn), near Vlie which hoisted Orange colours as soon as the English came up. Two hundred and thirty prisoners were put aboard her and the command given to Lieutenant M'Dougal of Wolverine. Command of the Gier, a brand new vessel, went to Lieutenant Gilmour, First lieutenant of Arrow.[10] Gilmour would receive promotion to the rank of Commander for his part in the action.
Arrow was also involved in the wreck and attempted salvage of HMS Lutine, which sank on 9 October 1799 carrying a large cargo of gold.[11]
In November 1799 W. Bolton replaced Portlock in command of Arrow.[5]
On 25 July 1800 Nemesis was part of a squadron that also included Terpsichore, Prévoyante, Arrow, and the hired armed lugger Nile. The squadron encountered the Danish frigate HDMS Freja, which was escorting a convoy of two ships, two brigs and two galliots.[12] Captain Baker of Nemesis hailed Freja and said that he would send a boat to board the convoy. The Danish captain refused, and said that if a boat approached he would fire on it. Baker sent a midshipman and four men in a boat, and the Danes fired several shots, which missed the boat, but one of which killed a man on Nemesis. Nemesis then opened fire with her broadside. After an engagement of about 25 minutes, Freja, much damaged, struck. She had suffered eight men killed and many wounded; both Nemesis and Arrow each suffered two men killed and several wounded.[13] The British brought Freya and her convoy into the Downs on 6 March.[12] They later released her, and presumably the rest of the convoy.[Note 2] This incident led to strained relations with Denmark, and, in order to anticipate any hostile move from Copenhagen, the British government despatched Earl Whitworth in August on a special mission to Copenhagen. The Danes not being ready for war, his mission staved off hostilities for about a year.
In 1801 Arrow came under the command of Commander Thomas-Charles Brodie. He was her captain at the Battle of Copenhagen. Arrow suffered no casualties, though her sister ship Dart had two men killed and one wounded.[14] [15] After the battle '"Arrow took the dispatches back to England.[16]
Napoleonic Wars
In 1805 Arrow' captain was Commander Richard Budd Vincent.[2] The French frigates Hortense and Incorruptible were cruising off the coast of Algeria when on 4 February, they attacked a convoy, destroying seven ships. Three days later, they encountered another convoy, this one under the escort Arrow and the 8-gun bomb vessel HMS Acheron; the French frigates destroyed the two Royal Navy vessels and captured three ships of the convoy; the rest of the convoy escaped.
In the battle Arrow lost 13 men killed and 27 wounded. The French removed the survivors and shortly after the much-damaged Arrow rolled over on her beam ends and sank.
Fate
The French frigates Incorruptible and Hortense captured and sank Arrow near Gibraltar on 4 February 1805, while she was escorting a convoy.[17]
Notes, Citations, and References
- Notes
- ^ On 20 January 1803 prize money resulting from the capture of the Blenie Rosetta, Active, Providence, five fishing boats, Altona, Antony Wilhelm and Nancy was due for payment.[8]
- ^ In 1807, after the second battle of Copenhagen, the British again captured Freja. This time they took her into the Royal Navy as HMS Freya.
- Citations
- ^ "No. 20939". The London Gazette. 26 January 1849.
- ^ a b Winfield (2008), p. 384.
- ^ Colledge
- ^ James (1837), Vol. 1, p. 403.
- ^ a b "NMM, vessel ID 380211" (PDF). Warship Histories, vol v. National Maritime Museum. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
- ^ "No. 14036". The London Gazette. 12 August 1797.
- ^ "No. 15268". The London Gazette. 17 June 1800.
- ^ a b c d "No. 15547". The London Gazette. 4 January 1803.
- ^ "No. 15531". The London Gazette. 9 November 1802.
- ^ a b "No. 15187". The London Gazette. 24 September 1799.
- ^ Van Der Molen, p.37.
- ^ a b Naval Chronicle, Vol. 4, p.157.
- ^ London Chronicle, 26–29 July 1800, p.104.
- ^ "No. 15354". The London Gazette. 15 April 1801.
- ^ James (1837), Vol. 3, pp. 66-80.
- ^ The Gentleman's Magazine (May 1811), Vol. 81, Part 1, p.492.
- ^ James (1837), Vol. 3, pp.391-397.
- References
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- James, William; Chamier, Frederick (1837), The naval history of Great Britain from the declaration of war by France in 1793 to the accession of George IV (New ed., with additions and notes, and An account of the Burmese war and the battle of Navarino / by Captain Chamier ed.), Bentley, OCLC 1924562
- Laughton, John Knox (1896). . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 46. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- Van Der Molen, S. J. (1970) The Lutine Treasure. (ISBN 0-229-97482-1)
- Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 1-86176-246-1.
This article includes data released under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported UK: England & Wales Licence, by the National Maritime Museum, as part of the Warship Histories project.