HMS Amphion (1798)
| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Amphion |
| Builder: | Betts, Mistleythorn |
| Launched: | 19 March 1798 |
| Fate: |
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| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type: | 32-gun fifth rate frigate |
| Tons burthen: | 914 (bm) |
| Length: | 144 ft (43.9 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam: | 37 ft 6 in (11.4 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Armament: | 26 x 18-pounder long guns + 6 x 24-pounder carronades + 6 x 6-pounder long guns |
HMS Amphion was a 32-gun fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She served during the Napoleonic Wars.
Amphion was built by Betts, of Mistleythorn, and was launched on 19 March 1798.
Amphion's first mission was to Jamaica in 1798, but by 1799 she was off Southern Spain under Captain Bennett. That year she captured a Spanish letter of marque, Nuestra Senora del Corvodorvya (alias Asturiana), on 25 November 1799. Asturiana was armed with eighteen 8-pounder and two 12-pounder guns, and four 36-pounder howitzers. She and her crew of 180 men were sailing from Cadiz to La Vera Cruz with a valuable cargo. She had been part of a convoy of five vessels.Amphion shared with Alarm in the head-money that was finally paid in March 1829.
Amphion remained in the Mediterranean until the Peace of Amiens. In 1802 Amphion was employed in attacking British smugglers in the English Channel and later conveyed the ambassador to Portugal to Lisbon.
In 1803 Amphion was paid off but later recommissioned and transported Horatio Nelson to the Mediterranean to take command. She remained in the Mediterranean under Captain Samuel Sutton, and was part of the fleet blockading Toulon. Amphion was one of the ships selected to hunt and capture the Spanish treasure fleet destroyed at the Action of 5 October 1804. In October 1805 the captaincy was given to William Hoste at Lisbon, and he sailed to Gibraltar and subsequently Algiers before operating off Cadiz and Sicily.
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