HMS Hermes (1796)

HMS Hermes was the Dutch cutter Mercuur, that the Amsterdam Admiralty purchased in 1781 or 1782. (Mercuur was a brig when captured.) HMS Sylph captured her off the Texel on 12 May 1796 after a chase during which Mercuur threw all but two of her guns overboard.[3]

History
The Netherlands
Name:	de Kemphaan
Launched:	1781
Captured:	12 May 1796
Great Britain
Name:	HMS Hermes
Acquired:	1796 by capture
Fate:	Foundered 31 January 1797
General characteristics [1][2]
Type:	brig-sloop
Tonnage:	210 (bm)[2]
Length:	85' (Amsterdam foot)[Note 1]
Beam:	30'
Depth of hold:	13'
Propulsion:	Sails
Complement:	Dutch service:150 At capture:85 Royal Navy:80
Armament:	Dutch service: 12-24 guns At capture:16 guns British service: 14 × 24-pounder carronades + 2 × 6-pounder chase guns

The British Royal Navy commissioned her in July 1796 under Commander William Mulso, for the North Sea.[2]

Hermes disappeared during a gale on 31 January 1797.[2] she was presumed to have foundered with all hands.[4]

Notes, citations, and references

Notes

1. All linear measurements are in Amsterdam feet (voet) of 11 Amsterdam inches (duim) (see Dutch units of measurement). The Amsterdam foot is about 8% shorter than an English foot.

Citations

1. van Maanen (2008), p. 22.
2. Winfield (2008), p. 290.
3. "No. 13894". The London Gazette. 21 May 1796. p. 491.
4. Hepper (1994), p. 83.

References

• Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650–1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
• van Maanen, Ron (20 June 2008). "Preliminary list of Dutch naval vessel built or required in the period 1700-1799" (PDF). Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
• 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.