HMS ''Calypso'' was a
Royal Navy ship-sloop
In the 18th century and most of the 19th, a sloop-of-war in the Royal Navy was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. The rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above; thus, the term ''sloop-of-war'' enc ...
. She was built at
Deptford between 1781 and 1783, launched on 27 September 1783 and first commissioned on 1 December 1783 for service off Northern Ireland and Scotland. She served in the North Sea, Atlantic, and the West Indies. ''Calypso'' sank whilst acting as a convoy escort on 30 July 1803 after colliding with a
West Indiaman merchant ship during a violent storm.
Construction
''Calypso'' was built to the same technical drawings as the five other ships: , , , , and . The class was designed to be 16-gun
ship sloops with
quarterdeck
The quarterdeck is a raised deck behind the main mast of a sailing ship. Traditionally it was where the captain commanded his vessel and where the ship's colours were kept. This led to its use as the main ceremonial and reception area on bo ...
s and
forecastles.
All use the same plans for
frame, Inboard profile, Lines, Stern, and upper and lower decks
Service history
''Calypso'' was first commissioned in September 1783 under Commander Ralph Dundas for service on the Irish and Scottish stations. She was then refitted at Plymouth and placed in
ordinary
Ordinary or The Ordinary often refer to:
Music
* ''Ordinary'' (EP) (2015), by South Korean group Beast
* ''Ordinary'' (Every Little Thing album) (2011)
* "Ordinary" (Two Door Cinema Club song) (2016)
* "Ordinary" (Wayne Brady song) (2008)
* ...
in October 1785. She was paid off in October 1786.
[
Her second commission began in January 1787 under Commander William Mitchell. After fitting for Channel service she sailed for Jamaica on 16 April 1787,][ returning to home waters in 1790 and once more being placed in ordinary.
''Calypso'' underwent a period of repair and was refitted at Portsmouth between July 1793 and March 1796. Her third commission began in January 1796 under Commander Andrew Smith, who took her to sea following her repair and refit to join Admiral Duncan's North Sea Fleet.][
In January 1797 Commander Richard Worsley took command and operated ''Calypso'' as a convoy escort and cruiser. Commander C. Collis succeeded Worsley in November 1797. Collis continued operating in this role until April 1798 when ''Calypso'' returned to Portsmouth for refit.][
Commander Henry Garrett took command in April 1799 and was succeeded by Commander Joseph Baker in November of that year. Baker took ''Calypso'' to the Caribbean, sailing for the ]Leeward Islands
french: Îles-Sous-le-Vent
, image_name =
, image_caption = ''Political'' Leeward Islands. Clockwise: Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Saint kitts and Nevis.
, image_alt =
, locator_map =
, location = Caribbean SeaNorth Atlantic Ocean
, coor ...
in February 1800. Whilst under Baker's command on this station, ''Calypso'' participated in several actions.[
*13 April 1800 - Her cutter took the schooner ''Diligente'' (6-guns)][
*21 July 1800 captured unknown French sloop.
*15 November 1800 - Fought off a French squadron, saving a convoy and capturing 16-gun sloop ''Ganso'' (with )][
In October 1801 Commander Robert Barrie assumed command, followed by Commander Edward Brenton in April 1802, and finally by Commander William Venour in August 1802.][
]
Fate
On 30 July 1803, ''Calypso'' and the 74-gun were escorting a convoy of heavily laden West Indiamen from Jamaica. The convoy was caught in a violent storm that dismasted 21 of the vessels. One of the merchantmen ran down ''Calypso'', sinking her with the loss of all hands.[Hepper (1994), p.102.]
Notes
Citations
References
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Calypso (1783)
1783 ships
Maritime incidents in 1803
Warships lost with all hands
Ships sunk in collisions
Sloops of the Royal Navy
Shipwrecks