HMS Greyhound (1780)
| History | |
|---|---|
 UK
|
|
| Name: | Greyhound |
| Acquired: | 23 June 1780 (by purchase) |
| Renamed: | HMS Viper (1781) |
| Honours and awards: |
Naval General Service Medal with clasp, "29 July Boat Service 1800" |
| Fate: | Broken up July 1848 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Cutter |
| Tonnage: | 148 (bm) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Schooner |
| Complement: | 60 |
| Armament: |
|
HMS Greyhound was a cutter that the British Admiralty purchased in 1780 and renamed Viper in 1781. Viper captured several French privateers in the waters around Great Britain, and took part in a notable engagement. She was sold in October 1809.
Greyhound was commissioned in June 1780 under Lieutenant Richard Bridge for the Scilly Isles and Irish Sea. As Viper, she was in company with Nemesis on 3 January 1781 when they captured the Dutch vessel Catherine.Viper was under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Dickinson. Then in August, Stag and Viper were in company when they recaptured the sloop Peggy and the cutter Hope.
On 16 April 1782, Viper captured the French privateer Brilliant. Later that month, on 28 April, Viper and the brig Antigua brought into Waterford a French privateer lugger and her prize. The prize was a sloop that had been sailing from London to Cork with merchandise when the privateer took her.
Lark and Viper were in company on 22 June when they sighted a cutter off Land's End. They gave chase and by 1 p.m. they caught their quarry. She proved to be the Dutch privateer Sea Lion (or Zeuwsche Water Leuw), of Flushing, but out of Cherbourg. Sea Lion had a crew of 50 men, and was pierced for 12 guns, but was only carrying eight 3-pounders. During this cruise she had taken a sloop between Lyme and Weymouth.
Viper was paid off in June 1783, but immediately recommissioned again under Lieutenant Arthur Webber for the Irish Sea. Lieutenant John Crymes took command in 1784 for Land's End and the Irish Sea. In 1785-86 Viper was off Milford on Sea. She was paid off in August 1786. In January of the next year she was again recommissioned for the Irish Sea, again under Crymes's command, and in July was at Lundy. From 1788 to 1789, she was under the command of Lieutenant S. Rains.
She was recommissioned in November 1791 under Lieutenant Robert Graeme for the Irish Sea, and he remained in command until late 1793. In June Viper and Graeme were at Plymouth.
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Wikipedia