Dutch brig Komeet (1789)
| History | |
|---|---|
  Dutch Republic & Batavian Republic
|
|
| Name: | Komeet |
| Builder: | Amsterdam |
| Launched: | 1789 |
| Captured: | 1795 |
 UK
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| Name: | Comeet |
| Acquired: | 1795 by capture |
| Renamed: | HMS Penguin (1798) |
| Fate: | Sold 1809 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Brig |
| Tons burthen: | 336 26⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: | 92 ft 9 1⁄8 in (28.273 m) (length overall |
| Beam: | 29 ft 4 3⁄8 in (8.950 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 28 ft 10 3⁄8 in (8.798 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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The Dutch brig Komeet was launched in 1789 at Amsterdam. HMS Unicorn captured her on the Irish station in 1795. The British Royal Navy renamed HMS Comeet to HMS Penguin in 1798. She was sold in 1809.
In 1791 Komeet sailed to Cape of Good Hope, in company with the Dutch naval corvette Scipio, leaving on 17 December 1791. Scipio arrived on 27 March 1792 and Komeet arrived on 4 April.
In May 1795, Komeet, under the command of Captain-Lieutenant Mynheer Claris, and Scipio, under the command of de Jong, set out with a convoy of nine East Indiamen for Europe. The problem was that France had occupied the Dutch Republic and its successor the Batavian Republic was now a French ally and thus an enemy of Great Britain. The Dutch captains decided to sail via the Shetland Islands to ports in then-neutral Norway.
On 28 August 1795, the convoy encountered Unicorn, in company with Diana and Seahorse. Unicorn captured the Dutch East Indiaman Cromhout or Crumhout. The Cromhout's capture resulted in at least £40,000 in prize money to be distributed among her captors. Then Unicorn parted company with the rest of the squadron and after a chase of 13 hours captured Komeet. Captain Thomas Williams of Unicorn described her as a remarkably fine vessel, only four years old, sails extremely well. She was armed with 18 English 9-pounder guns and was provisioned with water and food for 110 men for a nine-month cruise. The Royal Navy took her into service as Comeet. Scipio and the remaining seven Indiamen reached neutral Norway.
The Royal Navy commissioned her in May 1796 under Commander John King Pulling. Although some records suggest that she was renamed to Penguin on 2 October 1798, she was already sailing under the name Penguin at the time that she captured her first prize in 1796.
On 10 April, Unicorn recaptured the brig Thames while in company with Penguin and the hired armed cutter Fox (the third). At some point between 28 March and 19 April, Penguin saved the crew of the Prince of Wales, which had foundered on her way from Galway to Cork.
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Wikipedia