HMS Peacock (1806)
| History | |
|---|---|
 UK
|
|
| Name: | HMS Peacock |
| Ordered: | 27 January 1806 |
| Builder: | Jabez Bailey, Ipswich |
| Laid down: | April 1806 |
| Launched: | 9 December 1806 |
| Fate: | Broken up 1830 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Cruizer class brig-sloop |
| Tonnage: | 383 64⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 30 ft 7 in (9.3 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 9 in (3.9 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Brig |
| Complement: | 121 |
| Armament: |
|
HMS Peacock was a Cruizer-class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1806 and had a relatively uneventful career until she had the misfortune to encounter the USS Hornet in February 1813. Hornet captured Peacock, which then sank.
Peacock was commissioned under Commander William Peake in February 1807 for the North Sea. On 5 September Peacock was in company with the sloop Kite at the capture of Der Fruhllng. A week later Peacock was in company with the 74-gun Defence at the capture of the Danish ship Anna Karina.
In 1812 Peacock transferred to the Jamaica station. There, on 1 August, she captured the American ship Forester.
On 24 February 1813 Peacock encountered the USS Hornet off the mouth of the Demerara River. As she sailed out of the anchorage where she had left her classmate Espiegle she encountered the 20-gun Hornet sailing in. Peacock and Hornet sailed opposite each other and exchanged broadsides at 5:25pm. Peacock then turned to discharge her other broadside but Hornet got on Peacock' starboard quarter and proceeded to pour fire into her. Hornet's fire was accurate, while Peacock's was poor. Within 15 minutes Peake was dead, British casualties were heavy, and Peacock was a wreck. She struck and both vessels anchored. It became clear that Peacock was sinking and the Americans rescued her crew. She had suffered five men killed and 33 men wounded. Three of her wounded later died aboard Hornet. Four of her men, who escaped in a small boat, may also have been lost. Hornet had one man killed and four wounded, one of whom died later.
Peacock sank in five and a half fathoms of water of the Caroband Bank. In sinking she took nine of her men with her, and three Americans. The wreck was visible for some time thereafter.
...
Wikipedia