HMS Diligence (1795)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Diligence |
| Ordered: | 4 & 18 March 1795 |
| Builder: | John Parsons, Bursledon |
| Laid down: | April 1795 |
| Launched: | 24 November 1795 |
| Commissioned: | 26 November 1795 - 20 February 1796 |
| Fate: | Lost 1800 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Diligence-class brig-sloop |
| Type: | 18-gun brig-sloop |
| Tons burthen: | 318 41⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 28 ft 2 3⁄41 in (8.6 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 1 1⁄4 in (3.7 m) |
| Sail plan: | Brig |
| Complement: | 121 |
| Armament: |
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HMS Diligence was the name ship of her class of brig-sloops of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1795 and lost in 1800. She spent her career on the Jamaica station where she captured four armed vessels, one of them after a short engagement, and many small Spanish and French merchant vessels in the Caribbean inter-island and coastal trade.
Originally her name was Spencer but she was renamed Diligence within 1795. She was commissioned in November 1795 under Commander John West, who sailed her for Jamaica on 16 April 1796. She remained on the Jamaica station and in January 1797 Commander Robert Mends replaced West.
In early 1797 Diligence captured the Fogouse, a privateer of six guns and 57 men.
Diligence cleared the Bahama Straits on 3 March and the next day she was ten leagues SW of the Pan of Motonzas when she encountered and captured Nativetas (or Natividad) after an action that lasted three-quarters of an hour. Nativetas was about 500 tons (bm), was armed with 16 guns, and carried a crew of 50 men. She was carrying a cargo of logwood and had that day left Havana for Cadiz.
In September Diligence was in company with Hermione and Renommee when Diligence captured a Spanish packet ship of six guns that was also carrying troops.
On 27 September, Diligence captured the French privateer Epervier (or Espervier). Head money for 57 men was paid in July 1830.
In late 1797 or early 1798, the frigate Magicienne, troopship Regulus, and Diligence captured the French privateer Brutus, of nine guns.
By late 1798, Diligence had captured 13 merchant vessels. She took seven more in early 1799. Then she took a Dutch schooner, laden with provisions. Next, she captured another Dutch schooner, the Governor Lauffer, of 90 tons (bm), two guns and 19 men. Governor Lauffer was carrying coffee from Jackamel to Curacoa. Diligence also captured the Dutch schooner Kleine, which was taking dry goods and provisions from Curacoa to Acquain, and the French schooner Helene, which was carrying coffee from Jackamel to Curacoa. Diligence's boats cut out a French schooner in ballast from Maregot. In mid-1799 she captured more merchant vessels, mostly schooners. Polly was sailing under Danish colours but under "irregular" passes and had a crew of Dutchmen and Spaniards. She was carrying coffee from Curacoa to Saint Thomas. Foregat too was sailing under Danish colours, with a Spanish crew. She was sailing from Jacquemel to Saint Thomas with 30,000 pounds of coffee. A Spanish schooner that was coppered and designed like a Virginia pilot boat was carrying 45,000 pounds of coffee from Saint Martha to Curacoa. Lastly, Diligence's boats destroyed a Dutch schooner, a French schooner, and a sloop-rigged boat in the Gulf of Venezuela.
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Wikipedia