HMS Crocodile (1806) facts for kids
Crocodile
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Crocodile |
| Ordered | 30 January 1805 |
| Builder | Simon Temple, South Shields |
| Laid down | June 1805 |
| Launched | 19 April 1806 |
| Out of service | June 1815 |
| Fate | Broken up 1816 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Banterer-class post-ship |
| Tons burthen | 53850⁄94 (bm) |
| Length | 118 ft 2 in (36.0 m) (overall); 98 ft 7+5⁄8 in (30.1 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 32 ft 0+1⁄2 in (9.8 m) |
| Depth of hold | 10 ft 7 in (3.2 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 155 |
| Armament |
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HMS Crocodile was a British warship built in 1806. She was a 22-gun ship, meaning she carried 22 cannons. This type of ship was called a 'post-ship' and was quite fast. Crocodile served the Royal Navy for about 10 years. She was taken apart in 1816.
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What Was HMS Crocodile's Role?
HMS Crocodile was a sixth-rate post-ship. This meant she was a smaller warship, but still important. She was often used for escorting convoys. Convoys were groups of merchant ships. Warships protected them from enemy attacks.
Early Days and First Missions
Captain John Astley Bennet first commanded Crocodile in July 1806. Soon after, Captain George Edmund Byron Bettesworth took over. In March 1807, Crocodile stopped an American ship called General Clarke. The ship was sent to Plymouth for inspection.
In April 1807, Crocodile sailed from Portsmouth. She was escorting a convoy of about 30 ships. These ships were heading to Quebec in Canada.
A Legal Challenge: The Walker Case
While with Crocodile, Captain Bettesworth was involved in a legal case. He tried to claim salvage rights for an American ship named Walker. A French privateer had captured Walker. But her crew managed to take back their ship.
Crocodile then helped escort Walker to Halifax. Bettesworth felt he deserved a reward for this help. However, the court did not agree with his claim.
Capturing Enemy Ships
On August 29, 1807, Crocodile captured a ship called De Twende Brodre. Another privateer ship, Lion, was nearby. Around this time, Crocodile also stopped a Danish packet ship. It was called Foedres Mende. This happened during the Gunboat War between Britain and Denmark.
New Captains and Journeys
Captain the Hon. George Cadogan became the new commander on October 6, 1807. His First Lieutenant was Thomas Barker Devon.
In December 1807, Cadogan and Crocodile sailed to the Cape of Good Hope. They were escorting two other ships. They arrived in March after a long 12-week journey. They brought new soldiers for several British regiments.
Supporting the Peninsular War
In August 1808, Crocodile played an important role. She carried Arthur Wellesley to Portugal. Wellesley later became a famous general. He went to lead British forces in the Peninsular War.
Crocodile was part of a group of warships. They escorted 75 transport ships. These ships carried 30,000 troops from Cork to Mondego Bay.
More Captures and Prize Money
In November 1808, Captain Cadogan and Crocodile captured several Danish ships. This led to them receiving a large sum of £4000 in prize money. Cadogan himself received a good portion of this money.
In March 1809, Crocodile captured three more Danish vessels. These ships were carrying lumber. The captured ships were gathered in Gothenburg and then sent to British ports.
Service in West Africa
Captain Edward H. Columbine took command of Crocodile in September 1809. On January 13, 1810, Columbine sailed Crocodile to Africa.
During her time with the West Africa Squadron, Crocodile helped stop the illegal slave trade. She or her smaller support boats, called ship's tenders, stopped 11 vessels. Some of these ships were later returned to their owners by the court.
| Date | Name | Nationality | Type | Where Captured | Outcome | People Landed |
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| 4 April 1810 | Polly | Sloop | Matacong | Restored to owners | 0 | |
| 4 April 1810 | Doris | U.S. | Schooner | Matacong | Sent to Freetown | 0 |
| 20 April 1810 | Marianna | Spain | Off Sierra Leone | Sent to Freetown | 186 | |
| 24 April | Esperanza | U.S. | Schooner | Shebar River | Sent to Freetown | 91 |
| 17 May 1805 | Ama | Spain | Brig | Off Cape Three Points | Sent to Freetown | 0 |
| 22 May 1805 | Donna Marianna | Great Britain | Brig | Off Cape Coast Castle | Sent to Freetown | 0 |
| 2 June 1810 | Zaragozano | U.S. | Off Sierra Leone | Sent to Freetown | 0 | |
| August 1810 | St Jago | Spain | Schooner | Off Sierra Leone | Restored to owners | 57 |
| 11 September 1810 | Diana | U.S. | Off Sierra Leone | Restored to owners | 84 | |
| October 1810 | Emprenadadora | U.S. | Off Sierra Leone | Restored to owners | 0 | |
| October 1810 | Los Do Amigos | U.S. | Off Sierra Leone | Restored to owners | 0 |
On May 22, 1810, Crocodile seized the ship Donna Marianna. This was because the ship was breaking the Slave Trade Act 1807. This law made the slave trade illegal for British ships. Even though Donna Marianna claimed to be Portuguese, a British court found out she was actually a British ship using fake papers.
Thomas Ludlam, a former Governor of Sierra Leone, sadly passed away on board HMS Crocodile on July 25, 1810.
On May 22, 1811, Captain Columbine and Crocodile began their journey back to Britain. Sadly, Captain Columbine died during the night on June 19. His crew buried him at sea.
Final Years of Service
Captain John Richard Lumley took over command in 1811. He was later replaced by Captain William Elliot in June 1812. Elliot and Crocodile served near the Channel Islands. On November 9, Elliot sailed her to Portugal.
In April 1813, Crocodile captured two more ships. These were Santos Marter and Roba & Betsey. Both were sailing from Charleston to Cadiz when Crocodile stopped them.
What Happened to HMS Crocodile?
Crocodile was taken out of service in June 1815. She was then broken up, or taken apart, in October 1816 at Portsmouth.
