HMS Rapid (1804)

HMS ''Rapid'' was an ''Archer''-class (1804 batch) gun-brig of 12 guns, launched in 1804. She took part in April 1808 in one action that in 1847 the Admiralty recognized with a clasp to the Naval General Service Medal. In May 1808 cannon fire from a shore battery sank her.

Career

Lieutenant Thomas Gwillim commissioned ''Rapid'' in November 1804. During the blockade of Brest, on 30 May 1805 ''Rapid'' was near the Penmarks where Gwillim observed several small vessels anchored under the protection of a battery. Gwillim sent in a boat that was able to cut out the chasse maree ''Paix Désirée'', which was carrying a cargo of salt. The other French vessels moved closer to the battery, which kept firing at ''Rapid''s boat.

Lieutenant Henry Baugh replaced Gwillim on 2 January 1806. In May ''Rapid'' sent into Plymouth the Prussian vessel ''Edward'', Drawse, master, which had been sailing from St Andero. On 26 October was in sight of ''Rapid'' as she captured the brig ''Conductor''.

In late February or early March 1807, the Spanish schooner ''St Domingo'', carrying fish, arrived at Falmouth. She was a prize to ''Rapid''. In mid-December ''Rapid'' sent the Spanish vessel ''San Pedro Pascual'' into Plymouth. ''San Pedro Pascual'' was carrying a cargo of salt.

On 23 April 1808, , Commander Thomas Searle, and ''Rapid'' encountered two Spanish vessels from South America, sailing under the protection of four gunboats. After a short chase, the convoy anchored under the guns of a shore battery near Faro, Portugal. Searle anchored ''Grasshopper'' within grapeshot (i.e., short) range of the Spanish vessels and commenced firing. After two and a half hours, the gun crews of the shore battery had abandoned their guns, and the British had driven two gunboats ashore and destroyed them. The British also captured two gunboats and the two merchant vessels. ''Grasshopper'' had one man killed and three severely wounded. Searle himself was lightly wounded. ''Rapid'' had three men severely wounded. Spanish casualties were heavy, numbering some 40 dead and wounded on the two captured gunboats alone. Searle put 14 of the wounded on shore to Faro as he did not have the resources to deal with them as well as his own casualties. Searle estimated the value of the cargo on each of the two merchant vessels at £30,000. This action also resulted in the Admiralty awarding clasps to the Naval General Service Medal marked "Grasshopper 24 April 1808" and "Rapid 24 April 1808".

Loss

On 18 May 1808, ''Rapid'' was cruising off Cape St. Vincent in company with . They saw and chased two merchant feluccas that took shelter under the protection of a shore battery. The British decided to try to cut out the feluccas nonetheless, with ''Rapid'' leading the way. Fire from the battery struck ''Rapid'', opening two holes in her bow so that she filled quickly with water. Still, that evening ''Primrose'' was able to save ''Rapid's'' entire crew. The subsequent court martial praised Bough for his zeal and gallantry.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rapid (1804)
1804 ships
Brigs of the Royal Navy
Maritime incidents in 1808
Ships built on the River Exe
Shipwrecks of Portugal
Ships sunk with no fatalities