HMS Elk (1804) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Elk |
| Ordered | 22 May 1805 |
| Builder | (Mrs) Frances Barnard, Sons & Co., Deptford |
| Laid down | June 1804 |
| Launched | 22 August 1804 |
| Fate | Broken up in 1812 |
| General characteristics > | |
| Type | Cruizer-class brig-sloop |
| Tonnage | 382 90⁄94 bm |
| Length |
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| Beam | 30 ft 6 in (9.3 m) |
| Depth of hold | 12 ft 9 in (3.9 m) |
| Sail plan | Brig rigged |
| Complement | 121 |
| Armament | 16 x 32-pounder carronades + 2 x 6-pounder bow guns |
HMS Elk was a type of warship called a Cruizer-class brig-sloop. She was built from pine wood and launched in 1804. A brig-sloop was a small, fast warship with two masts. Elk served in the Jamaica area, where she captured several privateers. Privateers were armed ships owned by private people but allowed by their government to attack enemy ships. HMS Elk was taken apart in 1812.
Contents
Early Service and Commanders
Elk was built quickly using pine wood. This made her fast, but also meant she might not last as long as ships made from tougher wood. She started her service in September 1804 under Commander William Woolridge.
In November, Commander Randall McDonnell took over. He sailed Elk to Jamaica on January 20, 1805. While there, Elk and another ship, the French frigate Franchise, worked together. On May 6, they captured a ship named Hazard. Twelve days later, they also captured a ship called Globe.
New Leaders and Captures
In October, Commander James Richard Dacres became the commander of Elk. He stayed until January 14, 1806, when he was promoted to a higher rank called post-captain. He then moved to command another ship, the Bacchante.
His cousin, Commander William Furlong Wise, took his place on Elk. On May 5, Elk caught a Spanish privateer. This privateer was a small rowboat with a swivel gun and other small weapons. It had left Santiago five days earlier and had already captured two fishing boats called doggers. Elk found the privateer near Cape Cruz, Cuba. She captured the privateer, named Cubana, and got one of the doggers back. The Cubana had a crew of 14, but only five were still on board when Elk caught her.
Wise was also promoted to post-captain on May 14 and moved to command the ship Mediator. Commander John Langdale Smith then became the new commander of Elk.
More Privateer Encounters
In August 1806, Commander George Morris took command of Elk. He replaced Smith, who had moved to command the ship Penguin. On October 1, Elk destroyed a privateer named Alliance.
Another ship, HMS Elephant, had asked Elk to check on a schooner. Commander Morris chased this schooner for nine hours. Elks masts were damaged during the chase. Morris worried he might lose the privateer if the wind changed. So, he decided to ram the Alliance. The Alliances commander was M. Alexander St. Helme. His ship had one large 12-pounder gun, two smaller six-pounder guns, and two 12-pounder carronades. She had a crew of 75 men. In just five days, Alliance had captured three ships: two American schooners and a British ship called Neptune. The Neptune was sailing from Jamaica to Exuma. When Elk captured Alliance, the privateer was so badly damaged that she sank soon after her crew was taken aboard Elk.
In November, Elk captured another Spanish privateer called Coccila. This ship had four guns and 20 men.
Commander Jeremiah Coghlan's Time
Commander William Summer Hall briefly commanded Elk, followed by Commander Jeremiah Coghlan in July 1807. Coghlan commanded Elk for almost four years. During this time, he was also the main officer in charge of a small group of ships that protected the Bahamas. On July 25, Elk, under Coghlan's command, captured a ship named Fox.
On February 12, 1808, Elk captured the French schooner privateer Harlequin. This ship was commanded by Petre Andia. She had two carriage guns and other small weapons, with a crew of 54 men. Harlequin was in the Caicos Passage. She had left Baracoa 10 days earlier. Harlequin had captured an American ship that was sailing from Cap-Haïtien to Philadelphia with coffee and sugar.
On November 7, Coghlan captured a Spanish schooner called Posta de Caracas. This ship was a letter of marque, meaning it was a private ship allowed to carry weapons for defense. She was sailing from Campeche in Mexico to Havana with leather, rope, and twenty-four thousand dollars in money. During the chase, the Posta de Caracas threw her mail and her gun overboard.
In August, Elk captured the French naval schooner Superieuse and brought her to New Providence.
Coghlan was promoted to post-captain on November 27, 1810. However, he stayed on Elk for more than five months after that. When he finally left, he received special letters of thanks from officials in the Bahamas, including the governor.
Final Journey Home
In January 1811, Captain Clement Milward took over command of Elk. He was the one who sailed her back to Britain later that year. Elk arrived home on September 27. She was traveling with another ship, Sparrow. The two ships had been escorting a group of merchant ships from Negril. On the way, on August 5, the two warships recaptured a large ship named Ocean, which was carrying goods from the colonies.
Fate
HMS Elk was taken apart, or "broken up," at Chatham in October 1812.
