HMS Surprise (1796)

HMS Surprise was the name the Royal Navy gave to the French Navy's corvette Unité after Unité's capture in 1796. Unité was launched on 16 January 1794. Surprise gained fame in 1799 for the recapture of HMS Hermione. In 1802 Surprise was sold out of the service.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Surprise.

Contemporary plans of HMS Surprise
History
France
NameUnité
Builder
Laid downAugust 1793
Launched16 January 1794
CommissionedApril 1794
Captured20 April 1796 by HMS Inconstant
Great Britain
NameHMS Surprise
OperatorRoyal Navy
Acquired1796 by purchase of a prize
FateSold at Deptford in February 1802
General characteristics
Class and typeUnité-class corvette
Displacement657 tons
Tons burthen57873⁄94 bm
Length
  • 126 ft 0 in (38.4 m)
  • 108 ft 6+1⁄8 in (33.1 m) keel
Beam31 ft 8 in (9.7 m)
Draught14 ft 0+1⁄2 in (4.3 m)
Depth of hold10 ft 0 in (3.0 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement172 (peace) & 220 (war)
Armament
  • As Unité
    • 24 × 8-pounder long guns
    • 8 × 4-pounder long guns
  • As HMS Surprise
    • Upper deck: 24 × 9-pounder guns
    • QD: 8 × 4-pounder guns + 4 × 12-pounder carronades
    • Fc: 2 × 4-pounder chase guns + 2 × 12-pounder carronades

Historical fiction author Patrick O'Brian set many of his Aubrey–Maturin series aboard HMS Surprise, including the 2003 film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

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