HMS Spy (1804)

History
Great Britain
Name	Comet
Builder	Topsham
Launched	1800
Fate	Sold June 1804
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Spy
Acquired	June 1804 by purchase
Fate	Sold December 1813
United Kingdom
Name	Comet
Acquired	By purchase December 1813
Fate	Last listed in 1829
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen	254, or 258,[2] or 2745⁄94, or 275[3] (bm)
Length	Overall:97 ft 7 in (29.7 m) Keel:75 ft 3 in (22.9 m)
Beam	26 ft 2 in (8.0 m)
Depth of hold	10 ft 7 in (3.2 m)
Sail plan	Ship-sloop
Complement	65
Armament	14 × 18-pounder carronades + 2 × 9-pounder chase guns

HMS Spy was launched at 1800 at Topsham in 1800 as the mercantile vessel Comet. The Royal Navy purchased her in 1804 and renamed her HMS Spy. From 1810 she served as store ship. In 1812 she repelled an attack by a French privateer in a single-ship action. The French captured her in 1812 and then released her. The Navy sold her in 1813. Her new owners returned her to mercantile service under the name Comet. She was last listed in 1829.

Comet entered Lloyd's Register in 1800 with E. Tate, master, Lyall, owner, and trade London–Trinidad.^[2] It gave her burthen as 258 tons. This information continued unchanged until the Royal Navy purchased Comet.

The Navy purchased Comet in June 1804 and had Barnard in Deptford fit her in May–June. Between 12 June and 9 August she was at Deptford Dockyard undergoing further fitting. Also in June, Commander John Bushby commissioned her for the North Sea. Later that year Commander John Hudson replace Bushby.^[1]

In July 1807 Spy was in ordinary at Sheerness. Between September and October 1810 Spy was at Woolwich undergoing fitting as a store ship. She then was under the command of Richard Anderson, master.^[1]

Lloyd's List reported on 17 May 1811 that the store ship Spy had arrived at Portsmouth two days earlier after having left Gibraltar on 29 April in a convoy of some 16 vessels under the escort of HMS Wolverine.^[4]

On 10 December 1812 Spy repelled an attack by a French privateer schooner of 10 guns and 120 men in an action that lasted 50 minutes.^[5]

Lloyd's List reported on 5 January 1813 that the store ship Spy had come into Cork. The French frigate Gloire had captured Spy on the 20th and released her the same day.^[5] Gloire had disarmed Spy and then sent her into England as a cartel.^[6] Spy arrived at Plymouth on 16 January. She was transporting from Halifax part of the crew of HMS Guerriere.^[7]

The Royal Navy sold Spy at Deptford in December 1813.^[1]

Comet, of 275 tons (bm), British built, reappeared in Lloyd's Register in 1814 with Wilcocson, master, Parker & Co., owner, and trade London–Quebec.^[3] The 1815 volume changed her origin to N. Shoreham, and her burthen to 254 tons. She made voyages to Bermuda and Montreal as well.

Comet was last listed in 1829.

• James, William (2002) [1826]. The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 2, 1811–1820. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-906-9..
• Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9780851779102.