HMS Spy (1804)

History
Great Britain
NameComet
BuilderTopsham
Launched1800
FateSold June 1804
United Kingdom
NameHMS Spy
AcquiredJune 1804 by purchase
FateSold December 1813
United Kingdom
NameComet
AcquiredBy purchase December 1813
FateLast listed in 1829
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen254, or 258,[2] or 274594, or 275[3] (bm)
Length
  • Overall:97 ft 7 in (29.7 m)
  • Keel:75 ft 3 in (22.9 m)
Beam26 ft 2 in (8.0 m)
Depth of hold10 ft 7 in (3.2 m)
Sail planShip-sloop
Complement65
Armament14 × 18-pounder carronades + 2 × 9-pounder chase guns

HMS Spy was launched at 1800 at Topsham in 1800 as the mercantile vessel Comet. The Royal Navy purchased her in 1804 and renamed her HMS Spy. From 1810 she served as store ship. In 1812 she repelled an attack by a French privateer in a single-ship action. The French captured her in 1812 and then released her. The Navy sold her in 1813. Her new owners returned her to mercantile service under the name Comet. She was last listed in 1829.

  1. ^ Winfield (2008), p. 272.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference LR1800 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference LR1814 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).