HMS Forward (1805) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Forward |
| Ordered | June 1804 |
| Builder | Joseph Todd, Berwick |
| Laid down | July 1804 |
| Launched | 4 January 1805 |
| Commissioned | November 1804 |
| Fate | Sold 14 December 1815 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Archer-class gun-brig |
| Tons burthen | 17830⁄94 bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 22 ft 6+3⁄4 in (6.877 m) |
| Depth of hold | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) |
| Sail plan | Brig |
| Complement | 50 |
| Armament | 10 × 18-pounder carronades + 2 × chase guns |
HMS Forward was a small but important warship in the British Royal Navy during the early 1800s. It was a 12-gun gun-brig, which means it was a fast sailing ship armed with cannons. Forward belonged to a group of similar ships called the Archer class.
Contents
Life at Sea: HMS Forward's Adventures
Early Missions and First Capture
In December 1804, Lieutenant Daniel Shiels became the first commander of HMS Forward. The ship was sent to patrol the English Channel, a busy sea lane between England and France.
On 7 February 1806, Forward was sailing near the Isle of Wight when its crew spotted a French privateer lugger. A privateer was a private ship allowed by its government to attack enemy ships. Forward chased the French ship for about 30 minutes. After some cannon fire, the French lugger gave up.
The captured ship was named Rancune. It was from Cherbourg, France, and had been at sea for only 12 hours. Rancune was designed to carry 12 guns but only had four on board. It also had smaller guns and weapons. Two of its crew members were injured during the chase.
More Captures and New Commanders
On 17 April 1807, while still under Lieutenant Shiels' command, Forward captured a Danish ship named Sylt.
Later in 1807, Lieutenant Richard Welsh took over command of Forward. However, Lieutenant Shiels returned to command the ship in 1808.
Action in the Gunboat War
On 23 April 1808, during a conflict known as the Gunboat War, Forward played a brave role. It towed several smaller boats from other British warships, Daphne and Tartarus. Their mission was to attack ten enemy ships docked at Fladstrand in Denmark.
Even though they faced heavy fire from cannons and muskets from a nearby fort, the British crews successfully captured the enemy vessels. Five British sailors were wounded during this daring operation.
Continued Successes
On 2 July 1809, Forward, still commanded by Lieutenant Shiels, captured a Danish fishing boat called De Hoop.
Later that year, on 26 September 1809, Forward captured another ship named Jomfrue Sinneve Christiene. A few days later, on 1 October, it captured Elizabeth. Then, on 5 October, Forward captured Stadt Odense.
Around May 1810, Lieutenant Richard Bankes took command of Forward. He had previously served on a smaller hired ship called Duke of York.
On 19 November 1811, under Lieutenant Bankes, Forward captured a merchant ship named Fortuna.
Role in the War of 1812
During the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States, Forward was stationed off the Gulf Coast of North America. On 16 May 1815, Forward and another transport ship were the last British vessels to leave a British military post at Prospect Bluff. They helped evacuate the remaining soldiers from the base.
Forward then sailed to Bermuda, where it dropped off its passengers on 28 June. One of the passengers, Edward Nicolls, later sailed on Forward back to England, arriving in Portsmouth on 13 September 1815.
The End of HMS Forward's Journey
The British Navy decided to sell Forward on 14 December 1815. The ship, which weighed 179 tons, was located at Woolwich. Forward was sold for £600 to be taken apart, which is called breaking up. This marked the end of its service in the Royal Navy.
