HMS Grasshopper (1806)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
|
|
| Name: | HMS Grasshopper |
| Ordered: | 30 August and 31 October 1805 |
| Builder: | Richards (Brothers) & (John) Davidson, Hythe |
| Laid down: | April 1806 |
| Launched: | 29 September 1806 |
| Honours and awards: |
|
| Captured: | 25 December 1811 |
| Netherlands, as part of France | |
| Name: | Grasshopper |
| Acquired: | December 1811 by capture |
| Renamed: | Irene |
| Fate: | Transferred to France December 1812 |
 France
|
|
| Acquired: | Transferred from annexed Netherlands |
| Renamed: | Irene on transfer |
| Captured: | December 1813 |
 Kingdom of the Netherlands
|
|
| Acquired: | December 1813 by capture |
| Renamed: | HNLMS Irene (Dutch: Zr.Ms. Irene) |
| Fate: | Broken up 1822 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop |
| Tons burthen: | 383 12⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
100 ft 0 in (30.5 m) (overall) 77 ft 2 5⁄8 in (23.5 m) (keel) |
| Beam: | 30 ft 6 1⁄2 in (9.3 m) |
| Draught: |
6 ft 6 in (2.0 m) (unladen) 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m) (laden) |
| Depth of hold: | 13 ft 12 in (4.3 m) |
| Sail plan: | Brig |
| Armament: |
|
100 ft 0 in (30.5 m) (overall)
6 ft 6 in (2.0 m) (unladen)
HMS Grasshopper was a Cruizer-class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1806, captured several vessels, and took part in two notable actions before the Dutch captured her in 1811. She then served The Netherlands navy until she was broken up in 1822.
Commander Thomas Searle commissioned Grasshopper in November 1806. He then sailed her for the Mediterranean on 1 February 1807.
Early in the morning of 7 November, boats from Renommee and Grasshopper cut out a Spanish brig and a French tartan, each armed with six guns, from under the Torre de Estacio. The prize crews were not able to prevent winds and tides from causing the two vessels to ground. The boats and the two vessels were under a constant fire from the tower that wounded several prisoners. After about three hours the British abandoned their prizes as they could not free them and were unwilling to set fire to them as the captured vessels had prisoners and women and children aboard, many of whom were wounded. The British had two men badly wounded in the action; although the enemy suffered many wounded, they apparently had no deaths.
That same day Grasshopper captured the American schooner Henrietta, Joseph Dawson, master.
Then in December Grasshopper and Renommee were detached to sail off Carthagena to monitor the Spanish squadron there. Grasshopper was on lookout on 11 December and sailed ahead, leaving Renommee behind. While off Cape Palos, Searle observed several enemy vessels at anchor. His Catholic Majesty's brig St Joseph, of twelve 24-pounders guns, with a crew of 99 men under the command of Teniento de naviro Don Antonio de Torrea, got under weigh, and sailed towards Grasshoper. Two more naval vessels, St Medusa Mestrio (ten 24-pounders and 77 men), and St Aigle Mestrio (eight 24-pounders and 50 men) followed St Joseph.Grasshopper brought St Joseph to action. Within 15 minutes St Joseph had struck and run onshore, at which point many men of her crew abandoned her and swam for shore. The two other vessels then sailed away. The British were able to recover St Joseph, which Searle described as being of 145 tons burthen (bm), six years old, copper-fastened, well-found, pierced for 16 guns, a "remarkably fast sailer", and suitable for service in the Royal Navy. In the engagement Grasshopper had two men wounded. Searle had no estimate of enemy casualties, but believed that many men had drowned when they jumped overboard to avoid capture. The head and prize money was remitted from Gibraltar and Renommee's share was paid out to her officers and crew in December 1813.
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