HMS Bermuda (1805)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Bermuda.

Bermuda (1806); Indian (1805); Atalante (1808); Martin (1809); Morgiana (1811); Sylph (1812) RMG J4329.png
Bermuda
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Bermuda
Ordered1803
Launched1805
FateWrecked on 22 April 1808
General characteristics [1]
Class and type sloop
Tons burthen399 (bm)
Length107 ft (32.6 m)
Beam29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
Draught14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
PropulsionSails
Complement121
Armament16 × 24-pounder carronades + 2 ×  9-pounder bow chasers

HMS Bermuda was an 18-gun sloop of the Royal Navy.

Bermuda was built in Bermuda of Bermuda cedar in 1805, as the lead ship of her class. The Bermudas were modified versions of the of 1797, and eventually consisted of six ships. She was launched in 1805, and commissioned in October that year under the command of William Henry Byam, who transferred from Busy, which was then on the Halifax, Nova Scotia station.[2] Bermuda only spent three years in service before being wrecked on Memory Rock, Little Bermuda, on 22 April 1808.

Bermuda was searching for a rich Portuguese ship when she hit a reef during the night. Next morning Byam sighted a ship aground about five miles away. She proved to be Concepcion, the vessel they were looking for Bermuda could not be freed from the reef, but Conception could be. Byam and his crew captured the Portuguese ship, which they sailed on 26 April to New Providence, arriving on 4 May. Before they sailed they left a lieutenant, a midshipman, and six seamen to guard the stores. (Five men also took the opportunity to desert in Bermuda's jolly boat.) Rescuers returned to the wreck, salvaging what they could, before abandoning the wreck on 3 June. The court martial attributed the loss to an excessively strong current.[3]

Captain Byam went on to command .[2]

Citations and references[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Winfield (2008), p. 270.
  2. ^ a b Marshall (1828), supple. Part II, pp.311–313.
  3. ^ Hepper (1994), p. 123.

References[]

  • Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650-1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
  • Marshall, John (1823–1835). "Index" . Royal Naval Biography. London: Longman and company.
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.

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