HMS Speedy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the schooner that sank in Lake Ontario in 1804, see HMS Speedy (schooner).
- For the Halcyon class minesweeper, see HMS Speedy (minesweeper).
The sloop HMS Speedy was commanded by Thomas Cochrane in which he achieved his most famous exploit, the capture of the Spanish xebec El Gamo, 32 guns and 319 men compared to Speedy's 14 guns and 54 men, on 6 May 1801. On 8 August 1801 he was promoted to the rank of Post-Captain.
The plot of the novel Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian was in part modelled on the story of the HMS Speedy during the Napoleonic wars.
Length: 78 ft. 3 in. Beam: 25 ft. 9 in. Armament: 14 4-pdr. cannon