USS Viper (1806)

Configuration of typical brig-sloop
History
United States
Name	USS Viper
Builder	Josiah Fox
Laid down	date unknown
Christened	originally as the cutter Ferret
Completed	between 1806 and 1809 at the Gosport Navy Yard
Commissioned	18 April 1809 as the USS Ferret
Captured	17 January 1813 by the 32-gun frigate HMS Narcissus
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Mohawk
Acquired	By capture 17 January 1813
Honours and awards	Naval General Service Medal with clasp "28 April Boat Service 1813"[1]
Fate	Sold 1814
General characteristics [2]
Type	Brig
Tons burthen	143, or 148 (bm)
Length	73 ft 0 in (22.3 m)
Beam	23 ft 8 in (7.2 m)
Depth of hold	7 ft 6 in (2.3 m)
Sail plan	Brig
Complement	64 (American service)
Armament	US service: 12 guns British service: 10 guns

USS Viper – commissioned as USS Ferret – was a brig serving the United States Navy during the early days of the republic. Viper was assigned to enforce the Embargo Act of 1807 along the U.S. East Coast. During the War of 1812, while cruising in the Caribbean, she was captured by the more heavily armed British warships. She then served the Royal Navy as HMS Mohawk until the Navy sold her in 1814. While in British service she served in several actions that earned her crew the Naval General Service Medal,