HMS Argo (1781)

The Argo serving as flagship at Gibraltar, 1799. In the collection of the National Maritime Museum; Thomas Buttersworth; 19th century.
History
UK
Name:	HMS Argo
Ordered:	26 February 1779
Builder:	John Baker & Co, Howden Pans, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Laid down:	18 August 1779
Launched:	7 June 1781
Completed:	15 October 1781
Fate:	Sold on 11 January 1816
General characteristics
Class and type:	44-gun Roebuck-class fifth rate
Tons burthen:	892  21⁄94 (bm)
Length:	140 ft 8 in (42.9 m) (overall) 115 ft 8 in (35.3 m) (keel)
Beam:	38 ft 0 3⁄4 in (11.6 m)
Depth of hold:	16 ft 4 1⁄2 in (5.0 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full rigged ship
Complement:	280 (300 from 1783)
Armament:	As built: Lower deck (LD): 22 × 18-pounder guns Upper deck (UD): 22 × 9-pounder guns Fc: 2 × 6-pounder guns After April 1793: LD: 22 × 24-pounder carronades UD: 20 × 12-pounder guns QD: 4 × 24-pounder carronades FC: 2 × 24-pounder carronades After November 1793: LD: 22 × 18-pounder guns UD: 20 × 12-pounder guns QD: 4 × 24-pounder carronades Fc: 2 × 24-pounder carronades After September 1809: LD: 20 × Gover's 24-pounder guns UD: 22 × Gover's 24-pounder guns QD: 4 × 24-pounder carronades Fc: 2 × 6-pounder guns + 2 × 24-pounder carronades

HMS Argo was a 44-gun fifth-rate Roebuck-class ship of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1781 from Howdon Dock. The French captured her in 1783, but 36 hours later the British recaptured her. She then distinguished herself in the French Revolutionary Wars by capturing several prizes, though she did not participate in any major actions. She also served in the Napoleonic Wars. She was sold in 1816.

Argo was commissioned in March 1781 under Captain John Butchart. On 29 October Argo sailed for the Baltic with Albemarle, under the command of Captain Horatio Nelson and Enterprise, arriving at Elsinor on 4 November. On 8 December the squadron, now under the command of Captain Douglas in Sampson, escorted a convoy of 280 vessels to Britain, arriving on 22 December.

Early in 1782, Argo joined Captain Thomas Shirley in the 50-gun ship Leander and the sloop-of-war Alligator off the Dutch Gold Coast. Britain was at war with The Netherlands and before Argo arrived Shirley captured the small Dutch forts at Mouri (Fort Nassau - 20 guns), Kormantin (Courmantyne or Fort Amsterdam - 32 guns), Apam (Fort Lijdzaamheid or Fort Patience - 22 guns), Senya Beraku (Berku, or Fort Barracco, or Fort Goede Hoop - 18 guns), and Accra (Fort Crêvecoeur or Ussher Fort - 32 guns).Argo provided a landing party of 50 men that assisted Governor Mills to take Komenda (Fort Komenda).