HMS Triton (1796) facts for kids

Triton in three views, 1797
Quick facts for kids History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Triton
Namesake	Triton
Ordered	7 April 1796
Cost	£20,722
Laid down	April 1796
Launched	5 September 1796
Completed	31 October 1796
Commissioned	September 1796
Fate	Sold, 3 November 1814 OR broken up, 1820
General characteristics
Class and type	Triton-class fifth-rate frigate
Tons burthen	855 80⁄94 (bm)
Length	142 ft (43.3 m) (gundeck) 123 ft 0+1⁄8 in (37.5 m) (keel)
Beam	36 ft 2 in (11 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Complement	220
Armament	Gundeck: 26 × 12-pounder guns QD: 4 × 6-pounder guns + 6 × 24-pounder carronades Fc: 2 × 6-pounder guns + 2 × 24-pounder carronades

HMS Triton was a 32-gun frigate of the Royal Navy, a type of fast warship. She was designed by James Gambier and launched in 1796. Triton was special because she was an experimental ship, the only one built to her unique design. She was made from fir wood, not the usual oak, due to material shortages during wartime.

Triton was named after Triton, a Greek sea god. She served mostly under Captain John Gore in the English Channel and Mediterranean Sea. She was very successful, capturing many enemy ships and playing a key role in battles. One famous event was the action of 16 October 1799, where she helped capture two Spanish frigates full of treasure. Despite her success, her unique design caused problems, limiting her time at sea. After only seven years, she became a hulk (a ship used for storage or as a base) in 1803. She was later sold in 1814 or broken up in 1820.

Building a Unique Warship

Triton was a 32-gun frigate, meaning she carried 32 cannons. She was a one-of-a-kind ship, built based on designs by James Gambier, who was a very important naval leader. Instead of the usual oak, Triton was built from fir wood. This was because of money problems and a lack of traditional building materials during the war.

The 1796 plans of Triton, showing her straight sides and flat deck.

Her design was quite unusual for the time. She had straight, "wall-like" sides instead of the usual curved shape (called a tumblehome). Her deck was very flat, and her front (the bow) stuck out sharply. These straight features were an experiment. They were meant to make it easier to build ships when curved wood was hard to find. Triton also had "air pipes" that went to the lower deck. These helped to bring fresh air into the ship, which was usually very stuffy.

Triton was ordered in April 1796 and launched on 5 September 1796. She was ready for service by October 1796. Originally, she was meant to carry heavier 18-pounder guns. However, builders worried these guns would be too powerful for the ship's structure. So, she was fitted with 12-pounder guns instead.

Sailing Challenges and Improvements

Triton's experimental design had some downsides. Her straight sides and flat deck meant she wasn't very good at sailing against the wind. Her unique bow also caused her to crash heavily into waves. She needed a lot of ballast (heavy material in the bottom of the ship) to stay stable. This made her roll a lot in the water. Also, she was designed to float perfectly level, which was different from most ships that sat heavier at the back. This made her harder to steer.

In March 1797, some changes were made to Triton. Her front mast was moved forward, and her rudder (for steering) was made narrower. These changes greatly improved how the ship handled. Captain John Gore, her first captain, reported on her performance to designer Gambier. Gore noted the problems with rolling and the bow. However, he was happy with her speed, saying she could outrun other ships. The ship's doctor also liked the new "air pipes." He said they helped keep the crew healthy by getting rid of the "thick noxious foul air" that often built up below deck. Despite these good points, Triton's unusual sailing put a lot of stress on her wooden structure. This meant she couldn't stay in active service for as long as other ships.

Active Service at Sea

Triton began her active service in September 1796 under Captain John Gore. He commanded her for most of her time at sea until 1801. Gore had recently been released after being captured by the French. Francis Austen, the brother of famous author Jane Austen, served as a lieutenant on Triton from her launch until March 1797.

Joining Sir John Warren's Squadron

In early 1797, Triton joined the squadron of Sir John Warren in the English Channel. This squadron was tasked with blockading (blocking access to) French ports.

• On 10 February, Triton captured a French 14-gun privateer (a privately owned warship) called Recovery. She also recaptured an American trading ship called Atlantic.
• The next day, she took the 10-gun French privateer brig Jeune Emilie.
• Just a day later, Triton captured another 18-gun privateer, La Difficile.

Helping in Battles

On 9 March 1797, two British frigates, HMS St Fiorenzo and HMS Nymphe, spotted two French ships. These were the 40-gun frigate Résistance and the 22-gun corvette Constance. The French ships were trying to return to France after landing troops in Wales. The British frigates quickly attacked. Both French ships surrendered. As the battle ended, Triton and the large warship HMS Robust arrived. Some people think their arrival helped the British win quickly, even though they didn't fight directly.

Triton continued to be successful. On 12 June, she captured a French trading ship called La Zoes. On 25 July, she captured another ship named Boston.

Attacking Enemy Convoys

On 11 August, Triton was sailing with other ships from Warren's squadron off the coast of France. They found a French convoy (a group of ships traveling together) protected by a 20-gun corvette and some gun-boats. The French convoy tried to hide in a river protected by a fort. However, the British ships, including Triton, attacked. They sank a gun-boat and badly damaged the corvette. Triton chased away other ships from the convoy. This attack greatly disrupted supplies going to the French naval base at Brest. The next day, the squadron captured another trading ship, Admiralitat.

Triton and her squadron found another French convoy on 27 August near the Gironde river. Triton and HMS Jason were the fastest British ships. They managed to capture five of the French ships. These ships were carrying wood, tar, and other materials meant for building new French privateers.

Blockading the Channel

After these convoy actions, Triton continued to patrol the Channel. She became more involved in the close blockade of Brest, a major French port.

• On 14 October 1797, Triton captured a 4-gun French privateer called Le Furet near Île de Batz.
• Towards the end of 1797, she also captured the privateer La Helene.

The Seine Incident (June 1798)

John Borlase Warren, whose squadron Triton often sailed with.

On 29 June 1798, a French frigate called Seine was spotted off the coast of France. Three British frigates chased her. Eventually, Seine and two of the British frigates ran aground on rocks. Seine surrendered. At this time, Triton was part of a small squadron led by Captain Robert Stopford. This squadron was called in when French ships from Rochelle tried to attack the British ships that had captured Seine. Triton's arrival with her squadron saved the British from a dangerous situation.

• On 28 September, Triton captured a 5-gun schooner called L'Arraigne.
• In late 1798, Captain Gore was sick, and Edward Griffith temporarily took command.
• In December 1798, Triton captured a Spanish 4-gun privateer, St. Joseph, and a new French 14-gun brig, La Rosée. She also recaptured a British trading ship called George.
• On 31 December, Triton captured another 14-gun privateer brig, L'Impromptu.

Capturing French Frigates (June 1799)

In January 1799, Captain Gore returned to command Triton.

• On 29 January, Gore forced a 16-gun French cutter to surrender to soldiers on Guernsey.
• The next day, she captured the 18-gun L'Aimable Victoire after a long chase.
• In March 1799, Triton and other frigates captured the French merchant brig Victoire. A prize crew from Triton was taking Victoire to Plymouth, but she sank with her cargo of wine and brandy. Triton also captured the Spanish brig San Joachim.

On 25 April, Triton was sent to the Mediterranean Sea to tell Admiral Lord St Vincent that the French fleet had escaped from Brest. Triton then joined Lord St Vincent's fleet. On 18 June, the fleet found a squadron of French frigates trying to return to Toulon. A chase began, and several French frigates and brigs were captured. Triton was recognized as one of the "actual captors" of these French ships.

Triton and two other frigates were then sent to find the escaped French fleet. They found them in Cadiz, Spain. The enemy fleet left Cadiz on 21 July. Triton managed to outrun the enemy fleet and arrived at Plymouth with the news five days before the French fleet reached Brest. Triton was then sent to watch the French fleet in Brest. While doing so, she helped stop a Spanish squadron from entering the port. Triton was also involved in chasing the Spanish ships, which eventually retreated and were taken apart.

The Great Treasure Capture (October 1799)

Ethalion fighting Thetis during the battle of 16 October 1799.

Triton was ordered to watch Spanish ships in Ferrol with another frigate, HMS Ethalion. On 13 September, she captured the 6-gun French lugger Le St Jacques, which was carrying shells.

On 15 October, two Spanish frigates, Thetis and Santa Brigida, were spotted near Cape Finisterre. They were carrying a huge amount of treasure from New Spain (modern-day Mexico) to Spain. A British frigate, Naiad, began to chase them. By the next morning, HMS Alcmene, Triton, and Ethalion had joined the chase.

The two Spanish ships split up to make it harder for the British to catch them. Ethalion chased and captured Thetis. Meanwhile, Santa Brigida tried to escape by sailing very close to the rocky coast. Triton was the closest British ship and followed a similar risky path. At 5 a.m., Triton ran aground on rocks, damaging her hull. However, by 7 a.m., Captain Gore managed to get Triton off the rocks, and she began firing at Santa Brigida. Alcmene and Naiad also joined the attack, hitting Santa Brigida from both sides. By 8 a.m., Santa Brigida surrendered.

Triton was badly damaged from hitting the rocks, but only one of her crew was wounded during the fight. The Spanish squadron in Vigo saw Santa Brigida being captured and tried to get her back. But when they saw the British ships ready to defend their prize, the Spanish returned to port. Around this time, Triton also recaptured an American ship called Abigail and stopped another American ship, Polly.

The captured treasure was enormous! It was worth over £600,000 and included many boxes of silver coins, indigo, cochineal, cocoa, and sugar. It took 63 wagons to transport all the treasure to London. Captain Gore alone received an amazing £40,730 as his share of the prize money.

An Accident off Brittany

Map showing the coastal area where Triton patrolled.

After repairs, Triton returned to the Channel Fleet off Brest. On 11 February 1800, she captured the 14-gun brig La Vidette.

Around 12 March, while Triton was chasing a cutter, one of her 12-pounder guns exploded. The explosion sent out many large splinters. It sadly killed the ship's second lieutenant, Lieutenant Alford, and a gunner's mate. Lieutenant Alford had just left Captain Gore's cabin when the explosion happened. Eighteen other crew members were wounded. The explosion also tore up a large part of the deck and damaged the captain's cabin. The wounded were taken to the hospital.

By 15 March, Triton was trying to burn the remains of the warship HMS Repulse, which had been lost on rocks. However, the French brought cannons to bear on them from the shore, so they couldn't complete the task. On 15 April, Triton and another frigate, HMS Stag, captured the Spanish trading ship San Sebastian. By July, Triton was the main frigate in the inshore squadron, reporting on the movements of the enemy fleet in Brest to Lord St Vincent.

Later Years of Service

In spring 1801, Captain Gore was replaced by Captain Robert Lewis Fitzgerald. Gore was very tired from Triton's intense service. Triton continued to serve in the Channel, capturing the French ship Le Jeune Theodore on 15 September 1801. However, Triton was not considered a success in this period and was taken out of active service in April 1802.

From 1803 to 1809, Triton was commanded by Commander William Cashman. She was converted into a receiving ship (a ship used to house new recruits or store supplies) in September 1803. This was likely because her experimental design had caused too much wear and tear. By this time, her armament had been reduced to fewer, lighter guns. In 1807, Triton served as a guard ship at Waterford. During the Anglo-Russian War, she successfully stopped two Danish merchant ships, Norway Lion and Karen Helena. Her final role was as a receiving ship at Plymouth from August 1810.

What Happened to Triton?

Triton was either sold at Plymouth for £1,870 on 3 November 1814, or she was converted into a hulk in 1817 and then broken up (taken apart) in Newfoundland in 1820.

Captured Ships

Vessels captured or destroyed by Triton
Date	Ship	Nationality	Type	Fate	Ref.
10 February 1797	Recovery	French	14-gun privateer cutter	Captured
10 February 1797	Atlantic	American	Merchant vessel	Recaptured
11 February 1797	Jeune Emilie	French	10-gun privateer brig	Captured
12 February 1797	La Difficile	French	18-gun privateer	Captured
12 June 1797	La Zoes	French	Merchant vessel	Captured
25 July 1797	Boston	Not recorded	Not recorded	Captured
11 August 1797	Not recorded	French	Gun boat	Destroyed
12 August 1797	Admiralitat	Dutch	Merchant vessel	Captured
4–29 August 1797	Trois Soeurs	French	Not recorded	Captured
4–29 August 1797	Egalité	French	Not recorded	Captured
4–29 August 1797	St. Peter	French	Not recorded	Captured
4–29 August 1797	St. Ann	French	Not recorded	Captured
4–29 August 1797	Furet	French	Not recorded	Captured
4–29 August 1797	Dauphin	French	Not recorded	Captured
28 August 1797	Le Petit Diable	French	18-gun cutter	Destroyed
14 October 1797	Le Furet	French	4-gun privateer	Captured
December 1797	La Helene	French	Privateer	Captured
28 September 1798	L'Arraigne	French	5-gun schooner	Captured
11–12 December 1798	St. Joseph	Spanish	4-gun privateer	Captured
11–12 December 1798	La Rosée	French	14-gun privateer brig	Captured
11–12 December 1798	George	British	Merchant vessel	Recaptured
31 December 1798	L'Impromptu	French	14-gun privateer brig	Captured
December 1798	Succés	French	Privateer	Captured
29 January 1799	Not recorded	Not recorded	16-gun cutter	Captured
30 January 1799	L'Aimable Victoire	French	18-gun ship	Captured
13 March 1799	Victoire	French	Merchant brig	Captured
March 1799	San Joachim	Spanish	Merchant brig	Captured
18 June 1799	Courageuse	French	32-gun frigate	Captured
18 June 1799	Alceste	French	32-gun frigate	Captured
18 June 1799	Junon	French	40-gun frigate	Captured
18 June 1799	Salamine	French	18-gun brig	Captured
18 June 1799	Alerte	French	14-gun brig	Captured
13 September 1799	Le St Jacques	French	6-gun lugger	Captured
16 October 1799	Santa Brigida	Spanish	34-gun frigate	Captured
October 1799	Abigail	American	Merchant vessel	Recaptured
October 1799	Polly	American	Not recorded	Detained
11 February 1800	La Vidette	French	14-gun brig	Captured
April 1800	San Sebastian	Spanish	Merchant vessel	Captured
15 September 1801	Le Jeune Theodore	French	Letter of marque	Captured
2 September 1807	Norway Lion	Danish	Merchant vessel	Detained
2 September 1807	Karen Helena	Danish	Merchant vessel	Detained