HMS Comus (1806)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Comus |
| Ordered: | 30 January 1805 |
| Builder: | Custance & Co, Great Yarmouth |
| Laid down: | August 1805 |
| Launched: | 28 August 1806 |
| Completed: | By 19 November 1806 |
| Fate: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 22-gun Laurel-class sixth-rate post ship |
| Tons burthen: | 522 36⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 31 ft 6 3⁄4 in (9.6 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Complement: | 155 |
| Armament: |
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HMS Comus was a 22-gun Laurel-class sixth-rate post ship of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1806. In 1807 she took part in one notable single-ship action and was at the capture of Copenhagen. In 1815 she spent six months with the West Africa Squadron suppressing the slave trade during which time she captured ten slavers and freed 500-1000 slaves. She was wrecked in 1816, though with no loss of life.
She was commissioned in October 1806 under her first captain, Conway Shipley. The following year her boats executed cutting-out operations in the Canaries. On 15 March 1807 her boats, under the command of Lieutenant George Edward Watts, entered "Puerto de Haz" [sic], Grand Canaria, which was defended by the crossfire of three shore batteries. The British succeeded in bringing out six Spanish brigs (one armed with five guns), three with cargoes of salt pork, salt fish, or wine and fruit, and three in ballast. The only British casualty was a lieutenant, who was wounded. That month Comus also captured two brigs, the St Philip, with salt fish, and Nostra Senora de los Remedies, with a mixed cargo of merchandise.
On 8 May Comus sent her boats into the harbour of Gran Canaria, which was defended by a strong fort and two shore batteries. There they cut out a large armed felucca, which was flying His Catholic Majesty's colours. The boarding party, under the command of Lieutenant Watts, cleared her deck of her crew and the boats started to pull her out (the Spaniards had taken the precaution of removing her rudder and sails and taking them on shore), when a tug-of-war developed as men on the quay pulled on a hawser. Eventually the boarding party cut the hawser and the boats succeeded in pulling the felucca out, an operation they conducted under fire. The felucca was the packet ship San Pedro de Apostol, which had been carrying bale goods from Cadiz to Buenos Ayres. On her way, San Pedro de Apostol had captured the Lord Keith, which had been sailing from London to Mogador.
The British lost one man killed and five men wounded, one of whom was Watts, who had been severely wounded. The Spanish casualties included her captain and some crew killed, and 21 men taken prisoner, of whom 19 were wounded. The Lloyd's Patriotic Fund awarded Watts a sword worth £50. The prize money was substantial too.
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Wikipedia