HMS Merlin (1803)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
|
|
| Name: | Hercules |
| Builder: | South Shields |
| Launched: | 1801 |
| Fate: | Sold 1803 |
| History | |
 UK
|
|
| Name: | HMS Merlin |
| Acquired: | 1803 by purchase |
| Fate: | Sold 1836 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Sloop |
| Tonnage: | 395 (bm) |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 30 ft 6 in (9.3 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 10 in (3.9 m) |
| Sail plan: | Sloop |
| Complement: | 100 (British service) |
| Armament: |
|
HMS Merlin was launched in 1801 in South Shields as the collier Hercules. In July 1803, with the resumption of war with France, the Admiralty purchased her. She was one of about 20 such vessels that the navy would then employ primarily for convoy escort duties. She served on active duty until 1810, capturing one small privateer. She then served as a receiving ship until 1836 when the navy sold her for breaking up.
The Admiralty purchased Hercules in July 1803, renaming her Merlin. From 20 July to 20 September she was at Deptford fitting out for naval service. Commander Edward Pelham Brenton commissioned her in September.
On 28 October 1803, Merlin and Milbrook were off Dunkirk when they pursued and drove on shore the French privateer lugger Sept Freres. Sept Freres was armed with two guns and had a crew of 30 men under the command of Citizen Pollet. Milbrook anchored close to the lugger and came under fire from some field guns on shore. Though she took some hits, the British suffered no casualties. Head money was finally paid in May 1827.
In December Merlin was attached to the Channel fleet and was in company with Shannon on patrol off the Cape La Hogue searching for French coastal shipping and privateers attempting to slip out of the Normandy port of Cherbourg. At 8pm on 10 December, Shannon grounded on Tatihou Island, near Barfleur, during a heavy gale.Merlin spotted land thanks to a bolt of lighting and was able to wear off in time.
A shore battery fired on Shannon, killing some men. When it was clear that Shannon could not be gotten off, her captain surrendered. The French army then took the officers and men prisoners. Some French fishing boats took possession of Shannon but saw that her hull was so damaged that she would be impossible to refloat.
Merlin stood back into shore on the 16th and at 11.30am dispatched two boats of marines and sailors to destroy Shannon to prevent the French from salvaging her guns and stores. Despite heavy fire from the island's batteries the boarders were able to burn and destroy the frigate without suffering a single casualty.
Later in December, Merlin and Pluto detained the Traveller, Hall, master, which was sailing from Alexandria to Havre. They sent Traveller into Portsmouth.
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Wikipedia