HMS Hermes (1796)

HMS Hermes was the Dutch cutter Mercuur, that the Amsterdam Admiralty purchased in 1781 or 1782. (Mercuur was a brig when captured.) HMS Sylph captured her off the Texel on 12 May 1796 after a chase during which Mercuur threw all but two of her guns overboard.[3]

History
Dutch Navy Ensign Batavian Navy EnsignThe Netherlands
NameMercuur
Launched1781
Captured12 May 1796
Great Britain
NameHMS Hermes
Acquired1796 by capture
FateFoundered 31 January 1797
General characteristics [1][2]
Typebrig-sloop
Tonnage210 (bm)[2]
Length85' (Amsterdam foot)[lower-alpha 1]
Beam30'
Depth of hold13'
PropulsionSails
Complement
  • Dutch service:150
  • At capture:85
  • Royal Navy:80
Armament
  • Dutch service: 12-24 guns
  • At capture:16 guns
  • British service: 14 × 24-pounder carronades + 2 × 6-pounder chase guns

The British Royal Navy commissioned her in July 1796 under Commander William Mulso, for the North Sea.[2]

Hermes disappeared during a gale on 31 January 1797.[2] She was presumed to have foundered with all hands.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. All linear measurements are in Amsterdam feet (voet) of 11 Amsterdam inches (duim) (see Dutch units of measurement). The Amsterdam foot is about 8% shorter than an English foot.

Citations

  1. van Maanen (2008), p. 22.
  2. Winfield (2008), p. 290.
  3. "No. 13894". The London Gazette. 21 May 1796. p. 491.
  4. Hepper (1994), p. 83.

References


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