History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Wagtail
Ordered11 December 1805
BuilderJames Lovewell, Great Yarmouth
Laid downFebruary 1806
Launched12 April 1806
FateWrecked 13 February 1807
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeCuckoo-class schooner
Tons burthen75194 (bm)
Length
  • 56 ft 4 in (17.2 m) (overall)
  • 42 ft 4+18 in (12.9 m) (keel)
Beam18 ft 3 in (5.6 m)
Draught
  • Unladen: 5 ft 1+12 in (1.6 m)
  • Laden: 7 ft 6+12 in (2.3 m)
Depth of hold8 ft 5 in (2.6 m)
Sail planSchooner
Complement20
Armament4 x 12-pounder carronades

HMS Wagtail was a Royal Navy Cuckoo-class schooner launched in 1806 by James Lovewell at Great Yarmouth.[1] Like many of her class and the related Ballahoo-class schooners, she succumbed to the perils of the sea relatively early in her career.

She was commissioned in 1806 under Lieutenant William Cullis.[1] She was wrecked on 13 February 1807 at Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel in the Azores, three hours after her sister ship Woodcock was wrecked, and near Woodcock's water-logged remains.[2] Both vessels had been anchored in the shelter of an islet off the town when a gale came up. Because of the storm they were unable to clear the land.[2]

Wagtail's cables held until 8 pm. Then her cables parted, and with waves breaking over her, Cullis ran her ashore. One man of the 18 men in her crew drowned.[3]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Winfield (2008), p. 361.
  2. ^ a b Gosset (1986), pp. 56–7.
  3. ^ Hepper (2023), p. 248.

References