HMS Scorpion (1803)
| History | |
|---|---|
 UK
|
|
| Name: | HMS Scorpion |
| Ordered: | 27 November 1802 |
| Builder: | John King, Dover |
| Laid down: | January 1803 |
| Launched: | 17 October 1803 |
| Honours and awards: |
|
| Fate: | Sold 3 February 1819 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Cruizer-class brig-sloop |
| Tonnage: | 383 86⁄94 bm |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 30 ft 7 in (9.32 m) |
| Draught: |
|
| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) |
| Sail plan: | Brig |
| Complement: | 121 |
| Armament: |
|
HMS Scorpion was a Royal Navy Cruizer-class brig-sloop built by John King at Dover and launched in 1803. She was the first of the class to be built since the launching of Cruizer in 1797. Scorpion had a long and active career during the Napoleonic Wars, earning her crews three clasps to the Naval General Service Medal when the Admiralty authorized it in 1847, two for single-ship actions. She also took a number of prizes. Scorpion was sold in 1819.
Scorpion was commissioned in November 1803 under Commander George Nicholas Hardinge for the Channel and the Downs. On 15 December the sloop Jane, Dedwith, master, was sailing from Liverpool to Cork when she ran foul Scorpion near St David's Head and foundered. Scorpion rescued the crew and landed them at Waterford.
Scorpion's first medal action took place between 28 March and 3 April 1804.
On 25 March 1804 Rear-Admiral Edward Thornbrough detached Scorpion to reconnoiter the Vlie Passage to the Texel. There Hardinge saw two Dutch national brigs at anchor, the closest being Atalanta. She mounted sixteen long 12-pounders and had had 76 men on board.
On 31 March the 14-gun ship-sloop Beaver, under Commander Charles Pelly (or Pelley), arrived. That night Hardinge led five boats, three from Scorpion and two from Beaver, with about 60 officers and men, including Pelly, to attack Atalanta, which was under the command of Captain Carp. Hardinge was first on deck. The decks were slippery after rain and he fell as he tackled a mate of the watch but he recovered and killed the mate. Hardinge then engaged Carp, who disarmed Hardinge; Woodward Williams, Scorpion's master, saved Hardinge, who then called on Carp to surrender. Carp kept on fighting until the British killed him. This necessity greatly distressed Hardinge, who admired Carp’s courage.
...
Wikipedia