HMS Avon (1805)

The first HMS "Avon" was a "Cruizer" class brig-sloop that served in the British Royal Navy in the War of 1812 and was sunk in action in 1814.

"Avon" was built by Symons at Falmouth and launched on 31 January 1805. [Colledge, p. 44] She entered service at Spithead under the command of Francis J. Snell, and by September was under Thomas Thrush, who sailed her to Jamaica. Henry Fraser was in command by 1810, and by 1812 "Avon" was back at Portsmouth. George Sartorious took command on 22 July 1813 and she served on the Cork Station. Sartorious left her in June 1814 on his promotion to Post-Captain, and the Hon. James Arbuthnot took over command.

During the War of 1812, "Avon" encountered the United States Navy brig USS "Wasp" on 27 August 1814 in the English Channel. "Wasp" spotted "Avon's" sail on the horizon that evening and gave chase. By 2130, "Wasp" had "Avon" under her lee bow and opened fire. "Avon" returned fire until 2200, at which time her battery seemed to the crew of "Wasp" to cease fire. When "Wasp" did the same and called for "Avon" to surrender, "Avon" answered with another cannonade. Wasp again opened fire. Some broadsides later, "Avon's" guns fell silent once more, and "Wasp" repeated the call for surrender. "Avon", at this point a battered hulk, had no choice but to comply.

Just as "Wasp" began to lower the boat for the prize crew to go aboard "Avon", "Wasp's" lookout sighted another British brig standing toward "Wasp" and "Avon". "Wasp's" crew manned their battle stations immediately in hope of taking the newcomer, the 18-gun HMS "Castillian", as well. Just then, two more British ships appeared on the horizon, and "Wasp" was forced to give up the destruction of "Avon" and see to her own salvation. Although the Americans didn't know it at the time, "Avon" sank soon after "Wasp" left her, at 1 am, having had ten men killed and 29 wounded.

Notes

References

*DANFS
*Colledge, J. J. "Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy From the Fifteenth Century to the Present." Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987. ISBN 0-87021-652-X.
* [http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/info.php?ref=0262 Timeline of Avon's career]