HMS Otter (1805)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain
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| Name: | HMS Otter |
| Namesake: | Lutra lutra, the otter |
| Ordered: | 27 November 1802 |
| Builder: | Peter Atkinson of Hull |
| Laid down: | July 1803 |
| Launched: | 2 March 1805 |
| Commissioned: | 19 May 1805 at Sheerness |
| Honours and awards: |
Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Otter 18 Sept. 1810" |
| Fate: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Merlin-class ship sloop |
| Tons burthen: | 365 32⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 13 ft 9 in (4.19 m) |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement: | 121 |
| Armament: | 16 × 32-pounder carronades + 2 × 6-pounder guns |
HMS Otter was a Royal Navy 16-gun Merlin-class ship sloop, launched in 1805 at Hull. She participated in two notable actions in the Indian Ocean and was sold in 1828.
When built, Otter mounted sixteen 32-pounder carronades and two 6-pounder long guns. Under the rating system of the time, she was officially rated at "16 guns". From 1815 she was re-rated to "18 guns", but continued to carry the same armament.
Otter entered service in 1805 under Commander John Davies and was attached to the Channel Fleet. On 31 January 1807 Otter recaptured the Enterprize. Twenty days later, Otter recaptured the Farely.
She sailed for the Cape of Good Hope on 18 August 1807. From there Otter sailed to Montevideo to support the British attack on the Spanish colony. On arrival it was discovered that the British army had been defeated and surrendered. Davies then sailed to the Cape of Good Hope, where Commander Nesbit Willoughby took command of Otter.
On 24 February 1808 Otter sent into the Cape of Good Hope Harregaard, a Danish vessel coming from Bengal.
On 15 July 1808 Nereide, Otter, and Charwell shared in the capture of the French brig Lucie, and her cargo of slaves. Some months later, on 7 November, Leopard and Otter captured some slaves, for which they received bounty-money from the Honourable East India Company.
Otter was then attached to the squadron under Commodore Josias Rowley that was ordered to blockade the French colonies of Île Bonaparte and Île de France in the Indian Ocean. Otter raided anchorages on the islands. For instance, on 14 August 1809 her boats were in action at Riviere Noire, Île de France. Between 20 and 24 September she took part in the Raid on Saint Paul. Willoughby led the naval landing party that captured the harbour, for which he was promoted. Otter suffered one man killed and one man wounded.
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Wikipedia