HMS Porcupine (1807) facts for kids
Porcupine
|
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS Porcupine |
| Ordered | 30 January 1805 |
| Builder | Thomas Owen, Topsham, Exeter |
| Laid down | September 1805 |
| Launched | 26 January 1807 |
| Completed | 22 June 1807 at Plymouth Dockyard |
| Commissioned | March 1807 |
| Out of service | Sold 18 April 1816 |
| Honours and awards |
Naval General Service Medal with clasp "10 July Boat Service 1808" |
 United Kingdom |
|
| Acquired | April 1818 by purchase |
| Renamed | Windsor Castle |
| Fate | Sold 1826 for breaking up |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Banterer-class post ship |
| Tons burthen | 55968⁄94, or 538, or 560 (bm) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 32 ft 0+1⁄4 in (9.8 m) |
| Depth of hold | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 155 (later 175) |
| Armament |
|
HMS Porcupine was a 24-gun warship of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1807. This ship was very active during the Napoleonic Wars. She sailed mostly in the Adriatic Sea and the Western Mediterranean. Her crew often used small boats to attack enemy ships and bases. One of these brave actions earned her crew a special medal. After her time in the Navy, she was sold in 1816. She became a merchant ship named Windsor Castle. She was finally taken apart in 1826.
Contents
About HMS Porcupine
Ship Design and Features
Porcupine was designed as a 24-gun ship. She was meant to carry 9-pounder guns on her main deck. She also had smaller 6-pounder guns on her front deck. In addition, she carried ten 24-pounder carronades. These were powerful, short-range cannons. When Captain Henry Duncan took command in 1807, her guns were changed. The 9-pounders were swapped for heavier 32-pounder carronades. Two brass howitzers were also added. Her crew grew from 155 to 175 sailors and officers.
Adventures in the Mediterranean
Porcupine began her service in March 1807. She joined the British fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Captain Henry Duncan was her first commander. She often worked alone in the Adriatic Sea. There, she had many small battles. She fought against shore batteries and enemy merchant ships.
Capturing Enemy Ships
On September 23, 1807, Porcupine captured a ship called Fortuna. A few weeks later, on October 7, she chased a Venetian gunboat named Safo. The gunboat hid in a harbor on Šipan island. That evening, Lieutenant George Price led Porcupines boats into the harbor. They bravely captured Safo. This gunboat had a 24-pounder gun and about 50 crew members. Most of the enemy crew jumped overboard when the British arrived. Safo was part of a group of gunboats protecting the coast. The British also captured a guard boat nearby. Porcupines crew had only two men injured in this daring attack.
Between September and November 1807, Porcupine captured about 40 enemy ships. Most of these ships were carrying food and wine. They were sailing between Ragusa (now Dubrovnik) and Catero (now Kotor). Captain Duncan learned that the French planned to build forts on Curzola island. So, he kept Porcupine patrolling near there.
On November 27, Lieutenant Price captured two small ships. Two days later, he went into Zuliano harbor. There, he destroyed several small ships and wine supplies meant for French soldiers. He also brought out a ship carrying wool. As he left, he captured another ship. This one was carrying military supplies. It had brass mortars, howitzers, and gun carriages. Duncan managed to get the valuable guns and supplies onto Porcupine.
More Daring Captures
On January 7, 1808, Porcupine chased and captured the French transport ship Saint Nicolo. This ship had two guns and 16 sailors. It also carried 31 French soldiers. From this ship, Duncan learned about another enemy vessel. He found it near Paxos and Corfu. This second ship was Madonna del Carmine. It had six guns, 20 sailors, and 33 soldiers. Both ships were carrying grain and gunpowder for the French army.
Porcupine then moved to the Western Mediterranean, near Naples. She continued to attack enemy ships along the coast. On June 23, 1808, a French ship tried to escape from Civitavechia. Porcupine chased it ashore between two towers with cannons. Lieutenant Price led the boats to destroy the ship. They did this without any injuries, even under heavy fire.
Two days later, near Monte Christo island, Porcupine spotted a French schooner. After an 11-hour chase, she captured it. The French crew abandoned their ship and escaped. The schooner was named Nouvelle Enterprise. It was new and could carry 14 guns, but only had six. It was carrying goods from Leghorn to Turkey.
The Port d'Anzo Attack
On July 9, Duncan saw an enemy merchant ship with two gunboats. Porcupine was stuck in calm waters. So, Duncan sent his boats to attack. After eight hours of rowing, they drove the merchant ship ashore. The gunboats hid under the protection of two shore batteries at Port d'Anzo (Anzio). Three more French ships arrived and entered the harbor. One was a large ship with six guns.
That evening, Duncan sent the boats again to capture the large ship. The ship had 20-30 crew and was tied to the beach. French soldiers were on the beach, and the ship was close to the batteries. Despite all this, the British captured the ship and brought it out to sea. This took about 80 minutes. The ship was carrying salt to Naples. Eight British sailors were wounded, including Lieutenant Price. He was badly hurt in his head and leg. Price was later promoted for his bravery in many boat actions. In 1847, a special medal was given to those who served in this action.
On July 10, Porcupine captured Madonna de Rosario. Eleven days later, she ran a French ship ashore near Monte Circello. Lieutenant Smith led the boats to destroy it. The ship was about 200 tons and carried iron hoops. The British had no injuries, even though they were under fire from a nearby tower.
Pianosa Island Action
On August 8, Lieutenant Francis Smith led Porcupine's cutter and jolly boat to attack a ship on Pianosa island. They captured Concepcion, which had four guns. It was very close to a tower and a shore battery. Soldiers on the beach also defended it. The ship was carrying goods from Genoa to Cyprus. In this attack, one British sailor was killed. A lieutenant and eight men were badly wounded, and three later died.
Service in the Channel and Beyond
By July 1810, Captain Robert Elliott took command of Porcupine. In 1811, Porcupine sailed to Brazil and then returned to Portsmouth. She was in Portsmouth in July 1812 when the War of 1812 began. British authorities seized American ships there. Porcupine shared in the prize money from these captured ships.
Later, Porcupine joined a squadron near Bordeaux. She helped the British army during the Peninsular War. In early 1814, under Captain John Goode, Porcupine fought against French coastal positions.
On February 23, 1814, she helped the British Army cross the Ardour river near Bayonne. Two of Porcupine's sailors drowned when boats overturned.
On April 2, Captain Goode sent Porcupine's boats up the Gironde river. Lieutenant Robert Graham Dunlop led them to chase a French group of ships. The French ships ran ashore under the protection of 200 soldiers. Dunlop and his men landed and drove the French away. They captured many French vessels. These included a gun-brig, six gun-boats, an armed schooner, and an imperial barge. They also burned some enemy ships. Two British sailors went missing, and 14 were wounded.
Porcupine returned to Plymouth in September 1814. She then sailed to Africa and the Cape of Good Hope. She came back to Sierra Leone in April 1815.
On October 16, 1815, Porcupine arrived at Deal. She sailed to the river to be taken out of service. She arrived at Woolwich on November 6 and was put away. Although there were plans for her to sail to South America, she never did. Porcupine was sold in April 1816 to be taken apart.
From Warship to Merchant Ship
Instead of being broken up, a company named J. Short & Co. bought her. They changed her into a merchant ship and renamed her Windsor Castle. Her owners used her to trade with India. Records from 1816 show her trading between London and India.
On June 1, 1826, she arrived at Mauritius. She was leaking badly. After an inspection, she was declared too damaged to repair. She was then sold to be broken up. Another ship was hired to carry her cargo.
Images for kids
-
Civitavecchia in 1795, etching by William Marlow
