HMS Arrow (1796)
Action of HMS Arrow and Acheron against the French frigates Hortense and Incorruptible: Beginning of the action, 4 February 1805, by Francis Sartorious Jr., National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Left to right: Acheron, Hortense, Arrow, and Incorruptible
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Arrow |
| Builder: | Hobbs & Hellyer at Redbridge |
| Commissioned: | 1796 |
| Decommissioned: | 1805 |
| Honors and awards: |
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| Captured: | 4 Feb 1805 |
| Fate: | Sank after capture |
| General characteristics | |
| 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: |
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HMS Arrow was a sloop in the Royal Navy that the Admiralty purchased in 1796. during the French Revolutionary Wars she participated in many actions, including one that resulted in her crew qualifying for the Naval General Service Medal. On 3 February 1805 she and Acheron were escorting a convoy from Malta to England when they encountered two French frigates. Arrow and Acheron were able to save the majority of the vessels of the convoy by their resistance before they were compelled to strike. Arrow sank almost immediately after surrendering, and Acheron was so badly damaged that the French burnt her.
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."
Commander Nathaniel Portlock commissioned Arrow in 1796. On 1 June 1797 Arrow captured two French merchant vessels, Jeune Albe and Sept Freres. Then on 25 April 1798 Arrow captured Jonge Ferdinand. Then on 1 September Arrow captured Jong Jan Swart.
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