HMS Avon (1805)
| Career (United Kingdom) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Avon |
| Builder: | Symons, Falmouth |
| Launched: | 31 January 1805 |
| Fate: | Sunk 27 August 1814 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Cruizer class brig-sloop |
| Type: | Brig-sloop |
| Length: | 100.5 ft (30.6 m) |
| Beam: | 30.5 ft (9.3 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Complement: | 121 |
| Armament: |
18 guns: 2 x 6pdr bow cannon |
HMS Avon was a Royal Navy Cruizer class brig-sloop was built by Symons at Falmouth and launched on 31 January 1805.[1][2] In the War of 1812 she fought a desperate action with the USS Wasp that resulted in her sinking in 1814.
Service
Avon entered service at Spithead under the command of Cmdr. Francis J. Snell and sailed for the Mediterranean on 18 April 1805.[2] In March 1806 she came briefly under the command of Jasmes Stewart and was employed in convoying and cruising.
In May Cmdr. Mauritus de Stark took command and sailed Avon in the Channel.[2] He was then given the task of escorting to the Baltic the Russian vessel Neva, which was returning from a voyage of discovery. Hostilities had just begun between Napoleon and Russia and the British government deemed an escort a prudent precaution. For his services the Czar presented de Stark with a breakfast service of plate and a purse of 100 guineas. Next, Avon sailed for North America on 28 August. She was carrying Mr. Esrskine, HM Minster to the United States. On the way to the U.S., Avon encountered the French 74-gun Third Rate Regulus which gave chase for eight hours, firing constantly, before de Starck was able to loose her in a squall. Avon arrived at Annapolis Royal on 30 October. On his return voyage he met up with an English 74-gun ship with orders to go to Bermuda and then to take to Britain despatches from French Admiral Willaumez that Avon had taken from an American vessel she had examined on her way out of the Chesapeake. Avon arrived at Spithead on 7 January 1807.[3]
In January 1807 Cmdr. Thomas Thrush took command and sailed Avon to Jamaica.[2] (He had been appointed to her in September 1806 but had had to await her return.) During her time on the Jamaica station lightning struck Avon, damaging her greatly, but fortunately not causing any deaths. He also had the opportunity to take Avon to Cartagena to pick up a freight of dollars; his commission on the transport when he delivered it to Britain was ₤2056. On 1 May 1809 he was promoted to Post-captain and removed to Garland.[4]
In June 1809 Cmdr. Henry Fraser had taken command and by 1812 Avon was back at Portsmouth.
George Sartorious took command on 22 July 1813 and Avon served on the Cork Station.[2] She underwent repairs at Portsmouth in November. Sartorious left her in June 1814 on his promotion to Post-Captain, and Cmdr. the Hon. James Arbuthnot recommissioned her in July.[2]
Sinking by USS Wasp
During the War of 1812, Avon encountered the United States Navy brig Wasp on 27 August 1814 in the English Channel. Wasp spotted Avon's sail on the horizon that evening and gave chase. By 2130, Wasp had Avon under her lee bow and opened fire. Avon returned fire until 2200, at which time her battery seemed to the crew of Wasp to cease fire. When Wasp did the same and called for Avon to surrender, Avon answered with another cannonade. Wasp again opened fire. Some broadsides later, Avon's guns fell silent once more, and Wasp repeated the call for surrender. Avon, at this point a battered hulk, had no choice but to comply.
Just as Wasp began to lower the boat for the prize crew to go aboard Avon, Wasp's lookout sighted another British brig standing toward Wasp and Avon. Wasp's crew manned their battle stations immediately in hope of taking the newcomer, the 18-gun HMS Castillian, as well. Just then, two more British ships appeared on the horizon, and Wasp was forced to give up the destruction of Avon and see to her own salvation.
Although the Americans didn't know it at the time, Avon sank soon after Wasp left her, at 1 am. She had lost ten men killed and 29 wounded in the action.[2] Castillian rescued the survivors on Avon.[5]
Notes
References
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- Colledge, J. J. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy From the Fifteenth Century to the Present. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987. ISBN 0-87021-652-X.
- Gossett, William Patrick (1986) The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. (London:Mansell). ISBN 0-7201-1816-6
- Wellbeloved, Charles (1845) Memoir of Thomas Thrush, Esq: formerly an officer of rank in the Royal Navy: who resigned his commission on the ground of the unreasonableness of war. (London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans).
- Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 1861762461.
- Michael Phillips' "Ships of the Old Navy" - Timeline of Avon's career
