HMS Merlin (1796)

HMS Merlin was one of the two original Merlin-class sloops that served the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary Wars. She was launched in 1796 and was broken up in 1803. Her greatest accomplishment was her role as the leading vessel in a motley flotilla of local vessels that defeated a Spanish attack on the British colonists in Honduras at the Battle of St. George's Caye. She later captured a number of small merchant vessels in the West Indies before returning to Britain, where she was broken up.

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

HMS Merlin on a stamp of 1949, celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of St. George's Caye
History
Great Britain
NameHMS Merlin
Ordered24 January 1795
BuilderJohn Dudman, Deptford
Laid downJune 1795
Launched1 June 1796
FateBroken up January 1803
General characteristics
Class and typeMerlin-class
Typesloop
Tons burthen37065⁄94 (bm)
Length
  • Overall: 106 ft 2 in (32.4 m)
  • Keel: 87 ft 7 in (26.7 m)
Beam28 ft 2+1⁄2 in (8.6 m)
Draught
  • Unladen: 7 ft 5 in (2.3 m)
  • Laden: 11 ft 5 in (3.5 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 10 in (4.2 m)
PropulsionSails
Complement121
Armament
  • Initially
  • Upperdeck (UD): 16 x 6-pounder guns
  • QD: 4 x 12-pounder carronades
  • Fc: 2 x 12-pounder carronades
  • Later
  • UD: 14 x 32-pounder carronades
  • QD: 4 x 24-pounder carronades
  • Fc: 2 x 9-pounder bow chasers
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