HMS Challenger (1813)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
|
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| Name: | HMS Challenger |
| Ordered: | 29 July 1812 |
| Builder: | Hobbs & Hellyer, Redbridge |
| Laid down: | August 1812 |
| Launched: | 15 May 1813 |
| Honours and awards: |
Naval General Service Medal with clasp "St. Sebastian" |
| Fate: | Sold May 1824 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Cruizer-class brig-sloop |
| Tonnage: | 386 89⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 30 ft 8 in (9.3 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 8 1⁄2 in (3.9 m) |
| Sail plan: | Brig rigged |
| Complement: | 121 |
| Armament: | 16 x 32-pounder carronades + 2 x 6-pounder chase guns |
HMS Challenger was a Cruizer-class brig-sloop launched at Redbridge, Southampton, in 1813. She participated in the capture of a French privateer and then sailed to the East Indies. She was laid up in 1819 and sold in 1824.
On 25 May 1813, Captain Frederick Edward Venables Vernon was appointed to Challenger and commissioned her.
In July-August, Challenger was part of a squadron of some 17 vessels that participated in the siege of San Sebastián. Because of the shallowness of the water, only the smaller vessels could approach closely enough to bring their guns to bear on the town's defenses. Challenger suffered one casualty in this service: a seaman wounded on the island of Santa Clara. In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the clasp "St. Sebastian" to the Naval General Service Medal to all surviving naval participants at the siege.
On 13 October 1813 HMS Telegraph caused the destruction of the French 16-gun brig Flibustier (1810) in the mouth of the Adour. Flibustier had been in St Jean de Luz sheltering where shore batteries could protect her when she sought to escape because of the approach of Wellington's army. She started out during a "dark and stormy night", but Telegraph immediately pursued her. After an action lasting three-quarters of an hour, the French saw Challenger and Constant coming up to join the engagement.Flibustier's crew set her on fire and escaped ashore; she blew up before the British could capture her. She had been under the command of lieutenant de vaisseau Jean-Jacques-Léonore Daniel and armed with sixteen French 24-pounder carronades, two 9-pounder guns, a brass howitzer and four brass 3-pounder guns. There had been 160 men on board and Scriven reported that from what he saw, the French losses must have been considerable; Telegraph had no casualties. Scriven believed that Flibustier was bound for Santona to relieve the garrison there as her cargo consisted of treasure, arms, ammunition, and salt provisions. He also thought that some of the men who had been aboard her were officers and soldiers for the garrison. Both armies witnessed the British victory, with the allied army giving three cheers.
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Wikipedia