HMS Levant (1813)
| Career (United Kingdom) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Levant |
| Ordered: | 18 November 1812 |
| Builder: | William Courtney, Chester |
| Laid down: | January 1813 |
| Launched: | 8 December 1813 |
| Completed: | By 22 April 1814 |
| Fate: | Broken up by 9 October 1820 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 20-gun Cyrus-class sixth rate |
| Tons burthen: | 464 42/94 bm |
| Length: |
116 ft (35 m) (overall) 98 ft 1.25 in (29.9 m) (keel) |
| Beam: | 29 ft 10 in (9.09 m) |
| Draught: | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
| Complement: | 135 |
| Armament: |
Rated as 20 guns:
|
HMS Levant was a 20-gun Cyrus-class sixth rate of the Royal Navy built by William Courtney, of Chester. She was one of five British warships that were captured or destroyed by USS Constitution in the War of 1812. She was soon recaptured, and after 1817 was reclassified as a sloop of war.
Career
Levant was one of 16 ships of the Cyrus class that were constructed after the French prize Bonne Citoyenne. Levant was launched in December 1813. Her first commander was Captain Alexander Jones who was replaced by George Douglas on 28 April 1814. Under Douglas, Levant travelled from England to Quebec and then to Gibraltar.
While escorting two British convoys together with HMS Cyane, a Banterer-class sixth rate vessel, the two warships were attacked by USS Constitution under Captain Charles Stewart on 20 February 1815. Although peace had already been declared Constitution had not received official information about the Treaty of Ghent. Cyane and Levant were able to fire heavier broadsides than Constitution but were still out-gunned by range and gunpower by the American vessel. With excellent seamanship Constitution outmanoeuvred both ships and forced Cyane to surrender first. After placing a prize crew on board Cyane, Stewart chased Levant down. The sloop surrendered after two broadsides fired by the American vessel and was also taken a prize. With the help of the British prisoners all three ships set course for the Cape Verde Islands. There on 12 March the three ships were surprised by a British squadron under Commodore George Collier. Cyane and Constitution managed to escape from superior British forces, Levant was chased back into Porto Praya and retaken. Since Portugal was unable to maintain its neutrality on its (former) soil the United States was compensated for the loss of Levant by the Portuguese government. Levant was commanded by John Sheridan from June 1815 until being laid up in Chatham in November that year. She was intended to be repaired and returned to service in August 1820, but this was not carried out and she was broken up by 9 October 1820.
References
- William James: The Naval History of Great Britain 1793 - 1827, Vol. VI, London 1837.
- Rif Winfield: British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793 - 1817, London 2005.
- Tyrone G. Martin: A Most Fortunate Ship. A Narrative History Of Old Ironsides. Revised Edition USA 2003.
External links
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