HMS Surprise

Overview
Rating: 5th rate

Class: Stralsund-class fifth-rate frigate

Shipyard: Portsmouth DY

Launched: July 18th, 1696

Status: In active service

Armament
Total Guns: 30

Topdeck: 8 x 4-lbs

Gundeck: 20 x 10-lbs

Stern Chasers: 2 x 12-lbs

Broadside Weight: 116lbs

Crew: 260

Commanders
Current Captain: Mathew Edward Pellew since 1, March 1727

Previous Captains:

August 12th, 1721 - November, 1721: Captain Clonfert

May, 1721 - June, 1721: Captain Wallenstein

January, 1720 - April, 1720: Captain Collister

June 5th, 1712 - January, 1720: Captain George Kay

March 1st, 1701 - June 4th, 1712: Captain William Rowley

July 18th, 1696 - February 28th, 1701: Captain Edward Child

Notable Actions
April 11th, 1720: Fell under attack from pirate Edward Teague. The pirate's vessel was of a much greater class and bore down upon the Surprise with great speed. The Surprise was outgunned and outmatched and was quickly dismasted. She suffered exceedingly heavy damage to rigging, sails and masts. The pirate boarded her, cut through the remainder of her crew and made away with her cargo.

May 29th, 1721: Was engaged and defeated in combat by Spanish Captain Victoria vd Brake. Was boarded and emptied of cargo and valuables.

Ship History
HMS Surprise was launched July 18th, 1696. Despite her being a 30 gun frigate, these 30 guns are relatively small and she is no match for the heavier guns of the larger fifth rates. However, despite (or perhaps because of) her below-average broadside weight she is a weatherly and fast frigate, and makes an excellent scout vessel.

She served five years in the channel before being stationed on the Mediterranean station in 1701. There she remained for the next 18 years not distinguishing herself notably but taking part in several minor ship to ship actions. She was mainly charged with carrying messages between the larger ships of the Squadron and as acting as a scout. She was ordered to the West Indies Station in June, 1719.

Upon her arrival in January, 1720, she was given to Captain Collister of St. George Squadron. She served under Collister for four months during which she cruised off the Yucatan and Spanish Main. She was heavily damaged in an engagment with a pirate fifth-rate in April, 1720, and was laid up in drydock awaiting repairs.

It was not until April, 1721, a full year later that her repairs were started at Cowan Drydocks, and she was relaunched May 12th, 1721. Captain Wallenstein received command of her and served as her Captain until June later that year.

In August, 1721, Mr. Clonfert, a patronage officer and new Captain of the St. George Squadron took command of the Surprise bringing her out of drydock once again. He was the third Captain of the Squadron to command the Surprise. She was laid up in Port Royal Dockyards in November, 1721. She remained there untill March 1, 1727 when Mathew Edward Pellew was givven command of her. Currently Bartica is the home port of the Suprise