HMS Saracen (1812)
| History | |
|---|---|
 UK
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| Name: | HMS Saracen |
| Ordered: | 26 September 1811 |
| Builder: | Bools & Good, Bridport |
| Laid down: | November 1811 |
| Launched: | 25 July 1812 |
| Fate: | Sold 1819 |
 United Kingdom
|
|
| Name: | Saracen |
| Port of registry: | London |
| Acquired: | 1819 by purchase |
| Fate: | Wrecked 1828 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Cruizer class brig-sloop |
| Tonnage: | 386 60⁄94, or 402 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 30 ft 8 in (9.3 m) |
| Draught: |
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| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Brig |
| Complement: | 121 |
| Armament: |
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HMS Saracen was launched in 1812 at Portsmouth for the British Royal Navy. She had an active, though brief, naval career during which she captured a number of enemy-held islands and enemy vessels. The navy sold her in 1819 and new owners employed her as a whaler for two voyages between 1819 and 1826. She was apparently wrecked in 1828 off the coast of Chile, but with little or no loss of life.
The Royal Navy commissioned Saracen in August 1812 under Commandeer John Harper. All he had available to him were his marines and "a few worn-out sailors, retained for harbour duty." On 21 August Sir Richard Bickerton, commander-in-chief at Portsmouth, ordered Harper to patrol off the coast. The next evening Saracen was some seven or eight miles off Beachy Head when Harper observed two large luggers chasing three well-laden British merchant vessels. After a short chase and some combat, Saracen succeeded in capturing the French privateer Coureur (or Courier), of Calais, by coming alongside and boarding her. Coureur was armed with 14 guns and had a crew of 50 men under the command of Captain Joreur. French casualties amounted to Joreur and two men wounded; Saracen had no casualties. Harper then returned with his prize to Portsmouth. He had too few men to man the prize, guard his prisoners, and still chase the second privateer. The prisoners reported that the second lugger was Honoria, of the same strength as Coureur. Coureur was a new vessel, and the two privateers were only eight hours out of Dieppe and had not captured anything when Saracen had appeared on the scene.
Once Saracen had a full crew, Harper sailed her to the Mediterranean on 17 November. Initially Saracen convoyed merchant vessels sailing between Malta and the Archipelago. Harper was to operate from the Smyrna station, but he requested permission, which was granted, to sail to the Adriatic.
Saracen's first exploit occurred 17 June 1813. During a dark and stormy night, Harper took her boats and a landing party of some 40 seamen and marines to capture Zupano. This was one of three small islands on which the French had placed a garrison to protect vessels sailing into Ragusa. Harper and his men were able to capture 39 French soldiers, though some 16 escaped. The British had to rely on bayonets in their attack as the rain had rendered their ammunition unserviceable. Still, in the 10 minute struggle they suffered only minor casualties. Harper dismissed and reorganized the national guard, dismissed the mayor, and appointed a local notable in his place.
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Wikipedia