HMS Comet (1807)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Comet and Alexander (ship).

Plan of the Comet
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Comet
NamesakeThe comet C/1807 R1
Ordered1 October 1805
BuilderWilliam Taylor, Bideford, United Kingdom
Laid downFebruary 1806
Launched25 April 1807
CommissionedJanuary 1808
Honours and
awards		Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Comet 11 Augt. 1808"[1]
FateSold 12 October 1815
United Kingdom
NameAlexander
Launched1807
Acquired1815 by purchase
FateWrecked 9 August 1828
General characteristics [2]
TypeThais-class fireship
Tons burthen427, 446,[3] 447,[4] or 449 (bm)
Length
  • Overall:109 ft 0 in (33.2 m)
  • Keel:90 ft 11+3⁄4 in (27.7 m)
Beam29 ft 5+1⁄2 in (9.0 m)
Draught18 ft (5.5 m)
Depth of hold9 ft 0 in (2.7 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement121
Armament
  • Upper deck:18 × 24-pounder carronades
  • QD:6 × 18-pounder carronades
  • Fc:2 × 9-pounder guns + 2 × 18-pounder carronades

HMS Comet was launched in 1807 as a Thais-class fireship of the Royal Navy. In 1808 the class were re-rated as sloops, and in 1811 they were re-rated as 20-gun sixth rates. Comet participated in one action that resulted in her crew being awarded the Naval General Service Medal, and some other actions and captures. The Navy sold her in 1815. In 1816 she became an East Indiaman, sailing under a license from the British East India Company (EIC). She sailed between the United Kingdom and Ceylon. It was on one of these journeys that she was wrecked on Cole House Point on the River Thames on 9 August 1828.

  1. ^ "No. 20939". The London Gazette. 26 January 1849. p. 241.
  2. ^ Winfield (2008), p. 38.
  3. ^ House of Commons (1816).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference LR1816 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).