''El Gamo'' was a 32-gun

xebec A xebec ( or ), also spelled zebec, was a Mediterranean sailing ship that originated in the barbary states (Algeria), it was used mostly for trading. Xebecs had a long overhanging bowsprit and aft-set mizzen mast. The term can also refer to a ...

frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and maneuvera ...

of the

Spanish Navy The Spanish Navy, officially the Armada, is the Navy, maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces and one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Spanish Navy was responsible for a number of major historic achievements in navigation ...

captured by the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

sloop-of-war HMS ''Speedy'' in the action of 6 May 1801. The engagement was notable for the large disparity between the size and firepower of ''El Gamo'' and ''Speedy''; the former was around four times the size, had much greater firepower and a crew six times the size of ''Speedy'', which had a reduced crew of 54 at the time. After her capture, the British sold ''El Gamo'' to the

Regency of Algiers The Regency of Algiers was an Early modern period, early modern semi-independent Administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman province and nominal Tributary states of the Ottoman Empire, vassal state on the Barbary Coast of North Afr ...

as a merchant ship.

References

External links

Brief biography of Lord Thomas Cochrane, including the skirmish with El GamoHMS Speedy vs El Gamo
{{DEFAULTSORT:El Gamo 1760s ships Maritime incidents in 1801 Frigates of the Spanish Navy Ships built in Spain Xebecs