USS Wasp (1807)

The second USS "Wasp" of the United States Navy was a sailing sloop of war captured by the British in the early months of the War of 1812. She was constructed in 1806 at the Washington Navy Yard, was commissioned sometime in 1807, Master Commandant John Smith in command.

ervice history

"Wasp's" movements in 1807 and 1808 remain unrecorded; but, by 1809, she was cruising the eastern seaboard of the United States. By the close of 1810, she was operating from the ports of Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, presumably concentrating on the waters along the southern portion of the country's eastern coast. In 1811, she moved to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where she and brig USS|Nautilus|1799|2 joined frigates USS|United States|1797|2 and USS|Congress|1799|2 in forming a squadron commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur.

"Wasp" continued to operate along the coast of the middle states after the United States went to war with Britain in June 1812. Her single action of that war came in October 1812. On the 13th, she exited the mouth of the Delaware River and, two days later, encountered a heavy gale which carried away her jib boom and washed two crewmen overboard. The following evening, "Wasp" came upon a squadron of ships and, in spite of the fact that two of their number appeared to be large men-of-war, made for them straight away. She finally caught the enemy convoy the following morning and discovered six merchantmen under the protection of a 22-gun sloop-of-war, HMS|Frolic|1806|6. At half past eleven in the morning of 15 October, "Wasp" and "Frolic" closed to do battle, commencing fire at a distance of 50 to 60 yards. In a short, but sharp, fight, both ships sustained heavy damage to masts and rigging, but "Wasp" prevailed over her adversary by boarding her. Unfortunately for the gallant little ship, a British 74-gun ship-of-the-line, HMS|Poictiers|1809|6, appeared on the scene, and "Frolic"'s captor became the final prize of the action. "Wasp's" commanding officer, Master Commandant Jacob Jones, had to surrender his small ship to the new adversary because he could neither run nor hope to fight such an overwhelming opponent.

"Wasp" served briefly in the Royal Navy as HMS "Peacock", but was lost off the Virginia Capes in 1813.

The Wasp Islands, part of the San Juan Islands of Washington state, were named after the USS "Wasp".

References