HMS Malta (1800 schooner)
HMS Malta was the Spanish 10-gun schooner Malta, built and launched in the United States of America in 1797. The British captured her in 1800. After the Royal Navy captured the French ship-of-the-line Guillaume Tell and renamed her HMS Malta, the Admiralty renamed the schooner Gozo in December 1800 after the Maltese island of Gozo.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Spain | |
| Name | Malta |
| Launched | 1797 in the United States of America |
| Acquired | Unknown |
| Captured | by the Royal Navy in 1800 |
| Great Britain | |
| Name | HMS Malta |
| Acquired | By capture 1800 |
| Renamed | HMS Gozo in December 1800 |
| Honours and awards | Naval General Service Medal (NGSM) with clasp "Egypt" |
| Fate | Sold 1804 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | 10-gun schooner |
| Tons burthen | 162 9⁄94 (bm) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 21 ft 8 in (6.6 m) |
| Depth of hold | 12 ft 0 in (3.7 m) |
| Complement | 50 in British service |
| Armament | 10 × 4-pounder guns |
Malta was one of six British warships in sight on 8 January 1801 when HMS Penelope captured the French bombard St. Roche. She was carrying wine, liqueurs, ironware, Delfth (sic) cloth, and various other merchandise from Marseilles to Alexandria.
Then on 8 March the "Malta schooner", Entreprenante, and the gun-vessel Negresse protected the right flank during the landing of troops in Aboukir Bay. Cruelle protected the left flank, together with the cutter Janissary and the gun-vessel Dangereuse.
Because Gozo served in the fleet under Admiral Lord Keith in the Egyptian campaign between 8 March and 2 September, she is listed amongst the vessels whose crews qualified for the NGSM with clasp "Egypt".
On 9 June Gozo (misspelled as Gogo) captured the chasse maree Trompeuse, which was sailing to Ancona.
Gozo was sold in 1804.