HMS Racehorse (1806)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Racehorse |
| Ordered: | 7 November 1803 |
| Builder: | Hamilton & Breed, Hastings |
| Laid down: | June 1804 |
| Launched: | 17 February 1806 |
| Honours and awards: |
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| Fate: | Wrecked on 14 December 1822 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Cruizer-class brig-sloop |
| Tons burthen: | 385 bm |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 30 ft 7 1⁄4 in (9.3 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 9 in (3.9 m) |
| Sail plan: | Brig rigged |
| Complement: | 121 |
| Armament: | 16 x 32-pounder carronades + 2 x 6-pounder bow guns |
HMS Racehorse was a Royal Navy 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop built by Hamilton & Breeds and launched in 1806 at Hastings. She served in the Channel, where she captured a small privateer, and in the East Indies, where she participated in the capture of Isle de France (now Mauritius) and the operations around it. She was wrecked in 1822.
Racehorse was commissioned in March 1806 under Commander Robert Forbes, who sailed her for the Mediterranean on 25 May. By June 1807 she was under Captain William Fisher, cruising in the Channel.
Racehorse was among the vessels that detained the Danish ships Die Twende Softre on 28 August, and Swannen on 7 September. On 4 December she recaptured the Portuguese ship Gloria. On 2 March 1808 Racehorse captured the French privateer lugger Amiral Gantheaume off the Seven Islands, which are 16 miles west of Behat. Amiral Gantheume was armed with four guns and had a crew of 28 men. She was two days out of Granville and had not taken anything.Racehorse then cruised the Channel Islands.
Fisher sailed for the Cape of Good Hope on 29 September. There a number of her crew volunteered aboard other ships during the Invasion of Ile de France. On 13 and 14 March 1809, Racehorse was in company with her class-mate, Harrier, about 1000 miles from Rodrigues. Harrier fell behind and this was the last sighting of her; she was lost, presumed foundered.
In December 1810, Commander James de Rippe replaced Fisher.Racehorse was sent to Mauritius to join the squadron there under James Hillyar that had been assembled to attack the French squadron under Francois Roquebert that was expected from Brest. Early in 1811 Racehorse was in company with her sister-ship Elipse when Eclipse recaptured the Donna Emilia. On 3 February, Racehorse captured the slaver Othmany.
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