The history of the name HMS Flying Fish.
The Second “FLYING FISH” was a 6-gun schooner,
captured by the “Providence” from the French as “L’Esperanza” in
1793. She was of 80 tons, and
carried a crew of 30 men. Her
length, beam, and draught were 63ft., 17ft., and 6ft. In 1793 the
“Flying Fish” was on the Jamaica station. Encouraged by the overtures
of the French Royalist at San Domingo, the “Flying Fish” accompanied
Commodore John Ford in a squadron of three ships, with his broad pennant
in “Europa,” and some troops to attempt to take Jeremie and St.
Nicholas Mole in San Domingo. The
British were welcomed with joy, and on September 19th Jeremie
was taken possession of in the name of the French crown.
On September 21st the Commodore was off St. Nicholas
Mole, which was expecting an assault from a body of blacks and mulattoes.
By skilful tactics and diplomacy he secured the capitulation
without bloodshed, and on the following day was to be seen the
extraordinary spectacle of a French port mounting 100 heavy guns in the
quiet possession of the British. Later
in the year the Commodore secured the surrender of other towns in the same
Island of San Domingo, notably, that of Leogane. In June 1795 the
“Flying Fish,” commanded by Lieutenant George Seaton, was captured in
the West Indies by two French Privateers.
The third “FLYING FISH” was a 12-gun French
schooner privateer carrying a crew of 80 men, captured on January 13th,
1797, as the “Poisson Volant” by the “Magicienne” in the West
Indies near San Domingo.
The fourth “FLYING FISH” was a 6-gun French
privateer schooner carrying a crew of 50 men, taken as the “Poisson
Volant” on February 15th, 1797, by the “Magicienne” in
the West Indies.
The fifth “FLYING FISH” was a 12-gun schooner
from the Frnch. She was of
150 tons, and carried a crew of 40 men.
Her length, beam, and draught were 79ft., 22ft., and 7ft. She
was taken as the “Poisson Volant” off San Domingo on June 30th,
1803, by the boats of the squadron, commanded by Captain Henry William
Bayntun. On August 30th, 1806, the “Flying Fish,”
commanded by Lieutenant James Glassford Gooding, was one of a squadron of
four vessels under Commander George Le Gevt which captured a Spanish
14-gun felucca off Trinidad. The “Flying Fish” and two other
vessels then entered the Gulf of Matamano, and on September 2nd
landed 64 officers and men. They advanced the 22 miles to Batabano through bush and
marshes; and though opposed by a considerable force of Spanish soldiers
and militia, captured the fort, and carried off or destroyed eleven French
and Spanish vessels with a loss of only one man wounded. On December
15th 1808, the “Flying Fish,” while commanded by Lieutenant
J.G. Gooding, was wrecked and lost off San Domingo.
The sixth “FLYING FISH” was a 4-gun schooner,
launched at Bermuda in 1804. She
was of 70 tons, and carried a crew of 20 men.
Her length, beam, and draught was 55ft., 18ft., and 5ft. She
was eventually captured by some prisoners confined on board.
The seventh “FLYING FISH” was surrendered by the
Danes as a 14-gun brig in 1807. She
had been built at Copenhagen in 1788, and was of 213 tons.
Her length, beam, and draught was 77ft., 26ft., and 10 ft. In
the Danish service she had been known as the “Flyvendefiske.”
This vessel’s name was changed to “Venture” and she was sold
in 1811.
The eighth “FLYING FISH” was a Dutch armed
schooner. As the “Vliegende Visch” she was taken on January 1st,
1808, at the capture of the Dutch Island of Curacoa.
The ninth “FLYING FISH” was a small schooner
hired and armed for service in 1814.
The tenth “FLYING FISH” was a 78-ton schooner,
purchased in 1817. Her
length, beam, and draught were 62ft., 17ft., and 8ft. In 1812 the
“Flying Fish” was sold.
The tenth “FLYING FISH” was a 78-ton schooner
purchased in 1817. Her
length, beam, and draught were 62ft., 17ft., and 8ft. In 1821 the
“Flying Fish” was sold.
The eleventh “FLYING FISH” was a 12-gun brig,
launched at Pembroke in 1844. She
was of 445 tons, and carried a crew of 110 men.
Her length, beam, and draught were 103ft., 32ft., and 14ft.
In 1852 the “Flying fish” was broken up.
The twelfth “FLYING FISH” was a 6-gun screw
despatch vessel, launched at Pembroke in 1855.
She was of 868 tons, 350 horse-power, and carried a crew of 65 men.
Her length, beam, and draught were 200 ft., 30ft., and 7ft.
In 1860 the “Flying Fish,” commanded by Commander Charles
Webley Hope, formed one of the escotr to H.M.S. “Hero,” which vessel
carried His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on his memorable visit to
Canada and the United Sates of America. In 1862 the “Flying
Fish,” commanded by Commander Warren H. Anderson, was actively engaged
in the suppression of the slave trade on the west coast of Africa.
In 1864 the “Flying Fish” was broken up.
The thirteenth “FLYING FISH” was a 4-gun screw
sloop, launched at Chatham in 1873. She
was 940 tons , 840 horse-power, and 11 knot speed.
Her length, beam, and draught were 160ft., 31ft., and 14ft.
In 1874-1877 the “Flying Fish,” commanded by Commander Herbert F.
Crohan, was actively engaged in the suppression of the slave trade on the
east coast of Africa.
In 1888 the “Flying Fish” was sold.
The fourteenth “FLYING FISH” is a twin-screw
torpedo-boat destroyer, launched at Jarrow in 1897.
She is of 380 tons, 6200 horse-power, and 30knots speed.
Her length, beam, and draught are 215ft., 21ft., 7ft.
