![]() Contemporary plans of HMS Surprise
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History | |
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Name | Unité |
Builder | |
Laid down | August 1793 |
Launched | 16 January 1794 |
Commissioned | April 1794 |
Captured | 20 April 1796 by HMS Inconstant |
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Name | HMS Surprise |
Operator | Royal Navy |
Acquired | 1796 by purchase of a prize |
Fate | Sold at Deptford in February 1802 |
General characteristics [2] | |
Class and type | Unité-class corvette |
Displacement | 657 tons[1] |
Tons burthen | 57873⁄94 bm |
Length |
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Beam | 31 ft 8 in (9.7 m) |
Draught | 14 ft 0+1⁄2 in (4.3 m) |
Depth of hold | 10 ft 0 in (3.0 m) |
Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
Complement | 172 (peace) & 220 (war) |
Armament |
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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.
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.