USS Hornet (1805)
Artist's depiction of Hornet's foundering
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | USS Hornet |
Cost | $52,603 |
Launched | 28 July 1805 |
Commissioned | 18 October 1805 |
Fate | Sunk in a storm, 10 September 1829 in Tampico, Mx. |
General characteristics | |
Type | Sloop-of-war |
Tonnage | 440 |
Length | 106 ft 9 in (32.5 m) |
Beam | 31 ft 5 in (9.6 m) |
Draft | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
Propulsion | Sail |
Armament |
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The third USS Hornet was a brig-rigged (later ship-rigged) sloop-of-war in the United States Navy.[a] During the War of 1812, she was the first U.S. Navy ship to capture a British privateer.
Design
Hornet was launched 28 July 1805 in
Hornet's design was a compromise between the six original U.S. frigates and coastal gunboats championed by President Thomas Jefferson. The fledgling Navy needed a light-draft vessel that was fast and maneuverable, but also possessing sufficient firepower to deter or defeat enemy ships. Hornet's design is attributed to Josiah Fox, but her builder, William Price, is said to have altered it based on the successful lines of the Baltimore Clipper, of which he had significant experience.[2]
During his time as
1806–1812
Hornet cruised the Atlantic coast until 29 March 1806 when she sailed to join the squadron protecting American commerce from threats of piracy in the Mediterranean. She returned to Charleston, South Carolina on 29 November 1807 and was decommissioned.[1]
Hornet was recommissioned on 26 December 1808. She transported General
War of 1812
At the outbreak of war, Hornet sailed under the command of Master Commandant
In October, Hornet sailed south with
On 24 February 1813, Hornet engaged
Hornet was then assigned to a squadron consisting of the frigates United States and Macedonian under the command of Commodore Stephen Decatur. The squadron was chased into the Thames River near New London and was blockaded. Hornet was able to escape from the blockade and resumed active service. The other two ships remained under blockade until the end of the war.
On 14 November 1814, under new command, Hornet sailed on a second raiding voyage to the South Atlantic. On 23 March 1815, she captured HMS Penguin in a short battle off Tristan da Cunha. This was one of several naval engagements that took place after the war had ended. On 27 April, she engaged HMS Cornwallis, having mistakenly identified her as a merchant vessel. Hornet managed to escape by throwing overboard boats, guns, and other equipment so to enable higher speed.[7]
Loss
Following the war, Hornet cruised to the West Indies and Copenhagen in 1818; and, in 1819, to the Mediterranean. Hornet was later based at Key West and Pensacola, Florida to help end combat in the Caribbean Sea. She captured the pirate schooner Moscow 29 October 1821 off the coast of Santo Domingo.[1]
She cruised throughout the Caribbean throughout the 1820s. In July 1822 under Captain Henley, Hornet was involved in action against Captain Paez as part of operations to suppress the illicit slave trade. General Paez had captured Theodore, carrying Africans from the West coast of Africa. Hornet in turn captured this ship and took it to the Spanish port Havana, Cuba.[8]
She departed Pensacola for the last time on 4 March 1829, setting course for the coast of Mexico, and was never seen again. On 27 October 1829, the commander of the West Indies Squadron received information that Hornet had been dismasted in a gale off Tampico on 10 September 1829 and had foundered with the loss of all hands.[1]
Notes
- ^ Not to be confused with the Sloop-of-War Hornet, acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1805.
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- ^ a b c d e "Hornet (brigantine) III". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
- ^ a b c d e f g King, William. "Legendary Name, Hidden History" (PDF). The HORNET Project. Naval Heritage Society, Ltd. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ Roosevelt 1900, p. 83.
- ^ Roosevelt 1900, p. 115.
- ^ Roosevelt 1900, p. 159.
- ^ "Lloyd's List". No. 4770. London: W. Phillips. 14 May 1813. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ James & Chamier 1837, p. 387.
- ^ House of Lords the Sessional Papers 1801-1833 Vol.158. By Order. 1823. p. 98.
Bibliography
- OCLC 197401914.
- Harris, Gardner W. (1837). The life and services of Commodore William Bainbridge, United States navy. Philadelphia: Carey Lea & Blanchard. ISBN 0-945-72658-9. Archived from the originalon 31 July 2009.
- James, William; Chamier, Frederick (1837). The naval history of Great Britain: from the declaration of war by France in 1793 to the accession of George IV. Vol. 6. London: Richard Bentley.
- ISBN 0-375-75419-9.
External links
- U.S.S. Hornet Order Book, 1823-1825, MS 56 held by Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy