HMS Levant (1813)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Levant |
| Ordered: | 18 November 1812 |
| Builder: | William Courtney, Chester |
| Laid down: | January 1813 |
| Launched: | 8 December 1813 |
| Completed: | By 22 April 1814 |
| Fate: | Broken up by 9 October 1820 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Rated 20-gun Cyrus-class sixth rate |
| Tons burthen: | 464 42⁄94 bm |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 29 ft 10 in (9.09 m) |
| Draught: | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
| Complement: | 135 |
| Armament: | 2 x 6-pounders bow chasers + 20 x 32 pounder carronades |
HMS Levant was a 20-gun Cyrus-class sixth rate of the Royal Navy built by William Courtney, of Chester. She was one of five British warships that USS Constitution captured or destroyed during the War of 1812. She was soon recaptured, and after 1817 was reclassified as a sloop of war. She was broken up in 1820.
Levant was one of 16 ships of the Cyrus class that were constructed after the French prize Bonne Citoyenne. Levant was launched in December 1813. Her first commander was Captain Alexander Jones who was replaced by George Douglas on 28 April 1814. Under Douglas, Levant travelled from England to Quebec and then to Gibraltar.
While escorting two British convoys together with HMS Cyane, a Banterer-class sixth rate vessel, the two warships were attacked by USS Constitution under Captain Charles Stewart on 20 February 1815. Although peace had already been declared Constitution had not received official information about the Treaty of Ghent. Cyane and Levant were able to fire heavier broadsides than Constitution but were still outgunned by range and gun power by the American vessel. With excellent seamanship Constitution outmanoeuvred both ships and forced Cyane to surrender first. After placing a prize crew on board Cyane, Stewart chased Levant down. The sloop surrendered after two broadsides fired by the American vessel and was also taken a prize. With the help of the British prisoners all three ships set course for the Cape Verde Islands.
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Wikipedia