HMS Crash (1797) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 Great Britain |
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| Name | HMS Crash |
| Ordered | 7 February 1797 |
| Builder | Mrs Frances Barnard & Co, Deptford |
| Laid down | February 1797 |
| Launched | 5 April 1797 |
| Commissioned | April 1797 |
| Captured | 26 August 1798 |
 Batavian Republic |
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| Name | de Crash |
| Acquired | by capture 26 August 1798 |
| Captured | 11 August 1799 |
| Great Britain |
|
| Name | HMS Crash |
| Acquired | By capture 11 August 1799 |
| Fate | Sold September 1802 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Acute-class gun-brig |
| Tons burthen | 16047⁄94 (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 22 ft 1 in (6.73 m) |
| Depth of hold | 7 ft 11+1⁄2 in (2.426 m) |
| Sail plan | Brig |
| Complement | 50 |
| Armament | 12 x 18-pounder carronades + 2 x 24-pounder bow chasers |
HMS Crash was a small but important warship. She was a 12-gun Acute-class gun-brig, which means she was a sailing ship with 12 cannons. She was built in 1797 and first called GB No. 15. Later that year, she got her famous name, Crash.
This ship played a part in the Napoleonic Wars against France and the Netherlands. She was even captured once, serving for a year with the Dutch, before the British got her back. Crash was eventually sold in 1802.
Contents
Building the Ship
A man named John Henslow designed HMS Crash. She was part of a group of ships called the Acute-class gun-brigs.
When these ships were first built, they were only given numbers. But on August 7, 1797, they all received proper names, and GB No. 15 became HMS Crash.
Early Adventures
GB No. 15 began her service in April 1797. Her first commander was Lieutenant James Anderson.
Later in 1797, Lieutenant Bulkeley Mackworth Praed took command of Crash. In May 1798, she joined a mission led by Sir Home Popham. Their goal was to attack the locks and gates of the Bruges canal. This was an important operation to disrupt enemy movements.
Captured by the Dutch
On August 23, 1798, Crash was sailing with another British ship, Ariadne. However, a terrible storm hit, and the two ships got separated. The weather got worse and worse.
Crash struggled in the rough seas. Her crew even had to throw some of her heavy cannons overboard to make the ship lighter. On August 26, she tried to anchor near land, but the anchors couldn't hold. The ship ran aground, meaning it got stuck on the shallow seabed near Vlieland.
To prevent the ship from being useful to the enemy, the crew made holes in the bottom of Crash. They also threw their remaining weapons and ammunition into the sea. Then, they went ashore, where Dutch soldiers captured them. The Dutch then took control of Crash and managed to repair her, putting her into their own service.
British Get Her Back
Almost a year after being captured, on August 11, 1799, the British launched a daring attack to get Crash back. Several British ships were involved:
- The 16-gun sloop Pylades, led by Captain Adam Mackenzie.
- The 16-gun brig-sloop Espiegle, led by Captain James Boorder.
- The 12-gun hired cutter Courier.
- Juno and Latona , which sent their smaller boats to help.
Crash was anchored between the islands of Schiermonnikoog and Groningen. At the time, she was armed with eight 18-pounder cannons, two 24-pounder cannons, and two 32-pounder cannons. She had a crew of 60 and was commanded by Lieutenant Bibel.
Pylades and Espiegle fought Crash. After a strong fight, Crash surrendered to the British. Captain MacKenzie immediately put Crash back into British service. He placed Lieutenant James Slade, who was the first officer from Latona, in charge of the recaptured ship. During this battle, Pylades lost one sailor and had three wounded. Juno also lost one sailor when their boats attacked another enemy ship.
The next day, the British captured one Dutch boat and burned another. MacKenzie armed the captured boat with two 12-pounder cannons and named her Undaunted.
On August 13, the British attacked a Dutch schooner named Vengeance and a battery (a group of cannons) on Schiermonnikoog. The British managed to burn Vengeance and disable the battery's four guns. They also captured a rowboat with 30 men and two small cannons.
This battle was so important that sailors who survived until 1847 were awarded the Naval General Service Medal. This medal recognized their bravery in the "Schiermonnikoog 12 Augt. 1799" battle.
Back in British Service
After being recaptured, Crash was officially recommissioned into the British Navy. Lieutenant James Slade, who helped capture her, was promoted to commander for his bravery.
In June 1801, the bottom of her hull was covered with copper. This helped protect the ship from damage and made her sail faster. She was recommissioned again in August under Lieutenant David Hamline.
The End of Her Journey
HMS Crash was eventually sold in September 1802. This marked the end of her active service in the Royal Navy.
