HMS Levant (1813)

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

Levant
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Levant
Ordered18 November 1812
BuilderWilliam Courtney, Chester
Laid downJanuary 1813
Launched8 December 1813
CompletedBy 22 April 1814
FateBroken up by 9 October 1820
General characteristics
Class and typeRated 20-gun
sixth rate
Tons burthen464 42⁄94 bm
Length
  • 116 ft (35 m) (overall)
  • 98 ft 1+1⁄4 in (29.9 m) (keel)
Beam29 ft 10 in (9.09 m)
Draught9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Depth of hold8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Complement135
Armament2 x 6-pounders bow chasers + 20 x 32 pounder carronades

HMS Levant was a 20-gun

sloop of war
. She was broken up in 1820.

Career

A lithograph showing the capture of Cyane and Levant by Constitution

Levant was one of 16 ships of the Cyrus class that had the underwater lines of the French

prize Bonne Citoyenne (though slightly reduced). Levant was launched in December 1813. Her first commander was Captain Alexander Jones (younger brother of Captain Charles Jones)[1] who was replaced by George Douglas on 28 April 1814. Under Douglas, Levant travelled from England to Quebec and then to Gibraltar
.

While escorting two British convoys together with

Cape Verde Islands
.

A British squadron under

Porto Praya
on 11 March 1815. She was proceeding with her two prizes. Due to the weather and some confusion, Constitution eluded the British.

Fire from HMS Leander led Levant's crew to run her ashore, where HMS Acasta then captured her.[2][3] Collier eventually left Acasta and HMS Newcastle windward of Barbados while he searched for Constitution. However, she had returned to port, thus avoiding an engagement.[Note 1]

Because Portugal was unable to maintain its neutrality on its (former) soil the Portuguese government compensated the United States for the loss of Levant.

Captain John Sheridan commanded Levant from June 1815 until she was laid up in Chatham in November that year.

Fate

Levant was intended to be repaired and returned to service in August 1820, but this was not carried out and she was broken up by 9 October 1820. Her captured ensign was on display at Mahan Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy, but was removed on 27 February 2018 for preservation.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ A first-class share of the prize money for Levant was worth £496 15ss 4d; a sixth-class share, that of an ordinary seaman, was worth £3 5s 4¼d, or about two months' pay.[4]

Citations

  1. ^ A Naval Biographical Dictionary: Jones, Alexander. By William Richard O'Byrne. Published 1849. Accessed 2 Dec 2022.
  2. ^ Gossett (1986), p.95.
  3. ^ "No. 17010". The London Gazette. 9 May 1815. p. 871.
  4. ^ "No. 17200". The London Gazette. 14 December 1816. p. 2366.
  5. ^ "U.S. Naval Academy Museum". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 28 February 2018.

References

  • Gossett, William Patrick (1986) The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. (London: Mansell).
    ISBN 0-7201-1816-6
  • James, William (1837). The Naval History of Great Britain, from the Declaration of War by France in 1793, to the Accession of George IV. Vol. 6. R. Bentley.
  • Martin, Tyrone G. (2003) A Most Fortunate Ship. A Narrative History Of Old Ironsides. Revised Edition.
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth.
    ISBN 978-1861762467
    .

External links
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