HMS Cydnus (1813) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Cydnus |
| Ordered | 16 November 1812 |
| Builder | Wigram, Wells & Green, London |
| Laid down | December 1812 |
| Launched | 17 April 1813 |
| Completed | By 30 June 1813 |
| Honours and awards |
Naval General Service Medal with clasp "14 Dec Boat Service 1814" |
| Fate | Broken up in February 1816 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Cydnus-class fifth-rate |
| Tons burthen | 1,07882⁄94 (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 40 ft 3 in (12.3 m) |
| Depth of hold | 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 315 |
| Armament |
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HMS Cydnus was a powerful frigate of the Royal Navy, built in 1813. Frigates were fast warships used for scouting and protecting other ships. Cydnus was part of a group of eight ships called the Cydnus-class. She was built in London and served for a few years before being taken apart in 1816.
Contents
Building a Warship: HMS Cydnus Design
The Cydnus-class frigates were based on an earlier design called the Leda-class class. However, there was a big difference: these new ships were built using red fir (pine) instead of oak. Pine was cheaper and easier to find. This meant the ships could be built much faster, but they might not last as long as oak ships.
Powerful Guns for Cydnus
To help Cydnus and her sister ship, Eurotas, fight against larger American frigates, they were given stronger 24-pounder guns. They also had more crew members. The 24-pounder guns on Cydnus were designed by General Sir Thomas Blomefield, 1st Baronet. These guns were about 7 feet, 6 inches long.
For a short time in late 1813 and early 1814, Cydnus and Eurotas swapped some of their 24-pounder guns. This allowed them to test which gun design was better. In the end, the Royal Navy decided to use General Blomefield's design for their ships.
Adventures at Sea: Cydnus's Service
Cydnus began her service in May 1813 under Captain Frederick W. Aylmer. Soon after, Captain Frederick Langford took command.
Capturing Enemy Ships
Cydnus was involved in several captures:
- On 2 December 1813, Briton captured a ship called Wolf's Cove while Cydnus and other ships were nearby.
- On 8 January 1814, Cydnus recaptured an English ship named Rachael and Ann. This ship had 14 guns and was sailing from Buenos Aires to London when it was captured by an enemy.
- On 14 March 1814, Cydnus and the French frigate Pomone captured an American privateer called Bunker's Hill. A privateer was a private ship allowed to attack enemy ships. Bunker's Hill had been known for its past successes, but on this trip, it hadn't captured anything. This ship was actually a former Royal Navy cutter, Linnet, that the French had captured earlier.
Cydnus also helped protect groups of merchant ships, known as convoys, traveling to the East Indies in 1814.
Fighting in the War of 1812
Cydnus played a role in the operations against New Orleans during the War of 1812. Her smaller boats took part in the British victory at the Battle of Lake Borgne.
The Battle of Lake Borgne
On 8 December 1814, some US gunboats fired at British ships, including Sophie, Armide, and Seahorse. This happened while the British ships were sailing near small islands between Mobile and Lake Borgne.
From 12 to 15 December 1814, Captain Lockyer led a group of about 50 small boats to attack the US gunboats. These boats came from the larger British fleet gathering to attack New Orleans. Ships like Tonnant, Armide, Cydnus, Seahorse, Manly, and Meteor provided boats and crew.
The British boats rowed for 36 hours and met the Americans at St. Joseph's Island. On the morning of 14 December, a short but fierce battle took place. The British captured all the American boats, including five gunboats. The British lost 17 men and 77 were wounded. Cydnus had four men wounded in this battle.
Years later, in 1847, the Admiralty awarded a special medal clasp, or bar, called "14 Dec. Boat Service 1814" to those who had served in this boat action.
Court Martial and New Commanders
On 18 January 1815, a court martial (a military trial) was held on board Cydnus. Captain the Honourable William Henry Percy was on trial for losing his ship, Hermes, during an attack on Battle of Fort Bowyer in September 1814. The court decided he was not to blame, finding that his attack was justified.
Captain Langford, Cydnus's commander, sadly died in Jamaica early in 1815. Sir Alexander Cochrane then appointed Captain Robert Cavendish Spencer to command Cydnus. Spencer had done well in Louisiana and Florida. He spent about a month at Prospect Bluff with Britain's Native American allies, helping them with their claims before they left British service.
Cydnus then took Royal Marines from Prospect Bluff on 22 April 1815. She sailed to Bermuda, arriving on 13 June 1815, and then to Halifax, arriving on 24 June 1815.
The End of Cydnus
After returning to England, Cydnus was taken out of service. The Napoleonic Wars had ended, and because she was built with pine, she was not expected to last as long as other ships. So, in February 1816, she was taken apart at Portsmouth.
Cydnus was among the ships that received a special payment from the government for their service in 1813 and 1814.
