Cruizer-class brig-sloop


The Cruizer class was an 18-gun class of brig-sloops of the Royal Navy. Brig-sloops were the same as ship-sloops except for their rigging. A ship-sloop was rigged with three masts whereas a brig-sloop was rigged as a brig with only a fore mast and a main mast.
The Cruizer class was the most numerous class of warships built by the British during the Napoleonic Wars, with 110 vessels built to this design, and the second most numerous class of sailing warship built to a single design for any navy at any time, after the smaller 10-gun s.
Of the vessels in the class, eight were lost to the enemy, either destroyed or taken. Another was taken, but retaken. Fourteen were wrecked while in British service. Lastly, four foundered while in British service. In all cases of foundering and in many cases of wrecking all the crew was lost. Many of the vessels in the class were sold, some into mercantile service. One at least was wrecked. The fate of the others is generally unknown.

Design

In December 1796, the Navy Board placed new orders for four flush-decked sloops, to differing designs by the two Surveyors of the Navy — Sir William Rule and Sir John Henslow. In order to compare the qualities of ship-rigged and brig-rigged vessels, one vessel to each design was to be completed as a ship-sloop and the other as a brig-sloop. While the Henslow-designed vessels would see no further sister ships built, the Rule-designed vessels would each have a single sister ship ordered in the following March, and Rule's Cruizer design would subsequently see 106 constructed during the Napoleonic War. The hull design was exceeding fine, with a noted deadrise amidships and a sharp sheer, giving away the design that had origins in the smaller cutter-type designs.
The order placed in March 1797 for the first sister ship to Cruizer was subsequently cancelled, but new orders were placed from 1802 up to 1813. A final order in 1815 was cancelled in 1820.
The Cruizer-class brig-sloops proved to be fast sailers and seaworthy, and the 32-pounder carronade armament gave them enormous short-range firepower, exceeding the nominal broadside of a standard 36-gun 18-pounder frigate. To a Royal Navy increasingly desperate for manpower, the great attraction of the design was that — thanks to the two-masted rig and the use of carronades with their small gun crews — this firepower could be delivered by a crew only a third the size of a frigate's. The Dutch built three 18 gun-brigs — Zwaluw, Mercuur and Kemphaan — to a similar design; in one case apparently a copy, though without the square tuck stern. The Russian brig Olymp was also built to the same lines.
The naval historian C.S. Forester commented in relation to the smaller gun-brigs that
The type was a necessary one but represented the inevitable unsatisfactory compromise when a vessel has to be designed to fight, to be seaworthy and to have a long endurance, all on a minimum displacement and at minimum expense. Few men in the Royal Navy had a good word to say for the gun-brigs, which rolled terribly and were greatly over-crowded, but they had to be employed.

Later in the same book he was more complimentary as regards the larger brigs such as the Cruizer class.
Perhaps the most salient aspect of his statement is that the Cruizer class and its smaller sister class, the Cherokee class, highlight the huge expansion of the Royal Navy. Whatever else one may say of the class, the Cruizer-class brig-sloops were both fast and provided serious firepower for minimal crewing, characteristics that appealed to a Navy suffering serious and ever increasing staffing shortages. The class proved to be ideal for many of the shallow water commitments in the Baltic and Ionian Seas, as well as around Danish waters.

Manning

Prior to 1808, the complement of officers, men, and boys for a Cruizer-class brig-sloop included 15 Royal Marines. After 1808, the vessels carried 20 marines comprising 1 sergeant, 1 corporal and 18 privates.

Service in the War of 1812

During the Anglo-American War of 1812, several ships of the class fell victim to larger American ship-rigged sloops of war of nominally the same class. The American vessels enjoyed an advantage in weight of broadside and number of crew. The ship-rigged sloops enjoyed the ability to back sail, and their rigging proved more resistant to damage; by contrast, a single hit to the brig-sloop's rig could render it unmanageable. In many cases, however, the American advantage was in the quality of their crews, as the American sloops generally had hand-picked volunteer crews, while the brigs belonging to the overstretched Royal Navy had to make do with crews filled out with landsmen picked up by the press gang. During a battle with the equivalently armed and crewed American brig, HMS Penguin was unable to land a single shot from her cannons, with the only American losses being inflicted by Royal Marines aboard the British ship.
The comparison was made in the London press unfavorably and was not entirely fair. The American ship-rigged sloops were bigger vessels, averaging just over 500 tons ; the Cruizer-class vessels were not quite 400 tons. The crew sizes were disproportionate at 175 to 120, and at least some of the Cruizer class in these combats were outfitted with 24-pounder carronades vice the normal 32-pounders. The rigging was often the deciding factor as the combat between USS Peacock and HMS Epervier would highlight. When HMS Epervier lost her main topmast and had her foremast damaged she was disabled. USS Wasp, in another combat, would retain control despite the loss of her gaff, main topmast, and the mizzen topgallant. USS Wasp vs. HMS Avon provides another example. Despite being fought gallantly, Avon was crippled by loss of a gaff. She then lost her main mast, which loss rendered her immobile. The vessels, built in 1813–1814, were intended as an answer to the American ship-rigged sloops.

Vessels

The following table lists the Cruizer-class brig-sloops according to the date on which the Admiralty ordered them.
NameOrderedBuilderLaid downLaunchedFate

19 December 1796Balthazar & Edward Adams, Bucklers HardJanuary 179718 December 1797Sold to be broken up on 18 April 1816

19 December 1796Stephen Teague, IpswichFebruary 179720 December 1797Broken up February 1819

11 March 1797Josiah & Thomas Brindley, King's LynnApril 179719 March 1798Sold to be broken up on 5 September 1808
unnamed
15 March 1797Thomas Pitcher, Northfleetnever commencedorder subsequently cancelled

All subsequent vessels were brig-rigged.

St Vincent's Board

The Board ordered 19 in 1802 and 1803.
NameOrderedBuilderLaunchedFate
27 November 1802John King, Dover17 October 1803Sold 1819
27 November 1802Richard Symons, Falmouth26 May 1804Broken up 1811
27 November 1802Peter Atkinson, Hull7 August 1804Sold 1827
27 November 1802John Preston, Great Yarmouth4 September 1804Sold 1822
27 November 1802Benjamin Tanner, Dartmouth24 December 1805Broken up 1815
27 November 1802Benjamin Tanner, Dartmouth4 January 1806Abandoned as a wreck 1813
16 July 1803John King, Dover14 January 1806Wrecked 1807
16 July 1803John King, Dover21 March 1806Wrecked 1812
15 October 1803John Dudman, Deptford Wharf20 November 1804Sold 1815
15 October 1803John Dudman, Deptford Wharf2 February 1805Broken up 1821
7 November 1803John King, Dover22 September 1804Broken up 1821
7 November 1803Obadiah Ayles, TopshamJanuary 1805Sold for breaking up 1825
7 November 1803Thomas Owen, Topsham1 March 1805Sold 1816
7 November 1803John King, DoverOctober 1804Sold 1815
7 November 1803Thomas Owen, Topsham2 March 1805Sold 1815
7 November 1803Josiah & Thomas Brindley, King's Lynn14 June 1805Broken up 1814
7 November 1803Hamilton & Breeds, Hastings17 February 1806Wrecked 1822
9 December 1803Richard Symons & Co., Falmouth31 January 1805Foundered as a result of damage in fight with U.S. 22-gun sloop-of-war 1814
9 December 1803Joseph Todd, Berwick13 February 1808Sold 1828

Melville's First Board

The Board ordered six vessels to this design during May 1804, all of fir. Building of fir made for speedier construction at the cost of reduced durability in service.
NameOrderedBuilderLaunchedFate
22 May 1804Perry, Wells & Green, Blackwall Yard8 August 1804Sold 1814
22 May 1804Frances Barnard, Sons & Co., Deptford Dockyard22 August 1804Broken up 1812
23 May 1804Perry, Wells & Green, Blackwall Yard25 July 1804Wrecked 1805
23 May 1804Perry, Wells & Green, Blackwall Yard25 July 1804Broken up 1812
23 May 1804Samuel & Daniel Brent, Rotherhithe15 August 1804Taken by and burnt 1814
23 May 1804Frances Barnard, Sons & Co., Deptford Dockyard22 August 1804Believed to have foundered near Rodrigues Island in the Indian Ocean in March 1809

Barham's Board

The Board ordered 22 vessels to this design, seventeen of which were launched in 1806 and five in 1807.
NameOrderedBuilderLaunchedFate
16 July 1805John King, Dover3 August 1806Sold 1819
16 July 1805John King, Dover30 November 1806Foundered 1809
22 July 1805Henry Tucker, Bideford15 August 1806Sold 1819
21 August 1805William Row, NewcastleJune 1806Wrecked 1812; crew saved but Emulous was unsalvageable.
30 August & 31 October 1805Richards & Davidson, Hythe29 September 1806Stranded at Texel and surrendered to the Batavian Republic on 25 December 1811. She became the Dutch brig Irene; broken up at Flushing in 1822.
12 November 1805Balthazar & Edward Adams, Bucklers Hard16 July 1806Wrecked January 1824 in Port Longue Harbour, Sapientza Island, Greece.
12 November 1805John Preston, Great Yarmouth11 October 1806Wrecked February 1811 on the Scaw Reef off the coast of Jutland..
14 January 1806William Row, Newcastle13 November 1806Taken by French brig Abeille 1811; in French Navy as Alacrity until broken up in 1822.
16 January 1806Francis Hurry, Newcastle24 December 1806Sold 1841
21 January 1806Thomas Nickells, Fowey5 August 1807Wrecked 1809
22 January 1806Custance & Stone, Great Yarmouth10 January 1807Broken up 1830
22 January 1806Custance & Stone, Great Yarmouth27 December 1806Sold 1815
24 January 1806Matthew Warren, Brightlingsea30 August 1806Foundered 1827 after leaving Sierra Leone; wreckage washed ashore in November near Mataceney suggested that lightning had started a fire that destroyed her.
27 January 1806Matthew Warren, Brightlingsea16 October 1806Sold 1829
27 January 1806Jabez Bayley, Ipswich9 December 1806Taken and sunk by U.S. sloop of war 1813.
27 January 1806Jabez Bayley, Ipswich15 December 1806Broken up 1830
27 January 1806Thomas Hills, Sandwich31 August 1806Sold 1822
27 January 1806Thomas Hills, Sandwich10 January 1807Sold 1819
28 January 1806William Taylor, Bideford3 October 1807Taken by French brig 1808 and burnt 1809
29 January 1806James Betts, Mistleythorn10 January 1807Broken up 1845
4 February 1806 Bools & Good, Bridport11 September 1806Sold 1817
4 February 1806 Bools & Good, Bridport9 December 1806Taken by U.S. 22-gun sloop-of-war but retaken; broken up 1813

Grenville's Board

The Board ordered ten vessels to this design – all on 1 October 1806, nine of which were launched in 1807 and one in 1808.
NameOrderedBuilderLaunchedFate
1 October 1806Isaac Blackburn, Turnchapel, Plymouth23 May 1807Sold 1817
1 October 1806Matthew Warren, Brightlingsea, Essex8 July 1807Broken up 1831
1 October 1806John King, Dover4 August 1807Sold for mercantile use 1815
1 October 1806Jabez Bayley, Ipswich6 July 1807Sold 1815
1 October 1806James Betts, Mistleythorn5 August 1807Broken up 1823
1 October 1806Robert Guillaume, Northam, Southampton6 August 1807Sold 1828
1 October 1806Matthew Warren, Brightlingsea, Essex20 August 1807Sold 1841
1 October 1806Josiah & Thomas Brindley, King's Lynn7 October 1807Sold 1835
1 October 1806Robert Guillaume, Northam, Southampton19 October 1807Wrecked 1809
1 October 1806George Parsons, Warsash26 April 1808Broken up 1830

Mulgrave's Board

This Board ordered 14 vessels to this design during 1807 and 1808.
NameOrderedBuilderLaunchedFate
30 July 1807 Robert Guillaume, Northam25 June 1808Sold for mercantile use at Singapore 1842 and wrecked 1844
31 December 1807 Richard Blake & John Scott, Bursledon6 October 1808Broken up c.1855
4 August 1808Thomas Hills, Sandwich18 February 1809Sold 1837
4 August 1808Daniel List, Cowes2 May 1809Wrecked 1813
4 August 1808Thomas Hills, Sandwich29 May 1809Broken up 1829
5 September 1808Mark Richards & John Davidson, Hythe28 August 1809Sold 1819
5 September 1808Robert Davy, Topsham29 June 1809Broken up 1846
30 September 1808Josiah & Thomas Brindley, Frindsbury15 July 1809Broken up 1829
5 November 1808Richard Blake & John Tyson, Bursledon15 July 1809Broken up 1841
5 November 1808John King, Upnor30 May 1809Sold 1817 and resold to Chile 9 November 1818; served as Galvarino until broken up 1828.
5 November 1808Josiah & Thomas Brindley, Frindbury29 July 1809Foundered 1814
5 November 1808John King, Upnor12 August 1809Sold 1836; became a merchantman and whaler; last listed 1856
21 November 1808John Pelham, Frindsbury1 July 1809Broken up 1817
21 November 1808John Pelham, Frindsbury8 September 1809Sold 1825

Charles Yorke's Board

This Board ordered 15 of the design between January 1811 and January 1812.
NameOrderedBuilderLaunchedFate
19 January 1811Portsmouth Dockyard 9 July 1812Broken up 1822
30 August 1811 Good & Co., Bridport27 May 1812Sold at Bombay 1822; from 1823 as Jamesina served as an opium runner for Jardine & Matheson until at least the mid-1830s.
30 August 1811Robert Davy, Topsham9 July 1812Broken up 1847
30 August 1811William Taylor, Bideport11 June 1812Broken up 1821
30 August 1811Robert Davy, TopshamAugust 1812Sold 1865
30 August 1811Chatham Dockyard 17 April 1813Breakwater at Harwich 1829
30 August 1811Deptford Dockyard 12 August 1813Sold 1831
26 September 1811Jabez Bayley, Ipswich25 May 1812Bilged after being run ashore in a storm. Salved with no loss of life, but sold as unrepairable in 1827
26 September 1811 Bools & Good, Bridport25 July 1812Sold 1819
5 October 1811Daniel List, Fishbourne9 October 1812Sold in East Indies 1824
24 October 1811John Pellham, Frindsbury22 August 1812Wrecked, with the loss of all her crew, in Broad Haven near Belmullet on the coast of Mayo, Ireland, in 1823.
2 November 1811Jabez Bayley, Ipswich10 August 1812Sold 1832
14 November 1811John King, Upnor22 October 1812Broken up 1831
14 November 1811John King, Upnor7 December 1812Sold 1836
6 January 1812Portsmouth Dockyard 17 May 1813Sold 1832

Melville's Second Board

The Board ordered 20, of which only eighteen were built; two were cancelled.
NameOrderedBuilderLaunchedFate
23 April 1812Jabez Bayley, Ipswich16 February 1813Sold at Bombay 1828
6 May 1812Mrs. Mary Ross, Rochester21 December 1812Taken by 22-gun sloop 1814
6 May 1812Jabez Bayley, Ipswich2 February 1813Sold 1845
8 June 1812Thomas Hills, Sandwich11 September 1813Sold 1828
7 July 1812Edward Larking & William Spong, King's Lynn16 May 1813Wrecked 1814
29 July 1812Hobbs & Hellyer, Redbridge15 May 1813Sold at Trincomalee 1824
20 August 1812William Bottomley, King's Lynn29 June 1813Taken by U.S. brig and scuttled 1815
Lynx 29 October 1814Foundered in 1842 with all hands while en route from Vera Cruz, Mexico to Halifax.
2 October 1812East India Company, Bombay 18 December 1815Wrecked 1840
8 October 1812William & James Durkin, Norham 29 July 1813Sold 1836
2 November 1812Hobbs & Hellyer, Redbridge 28 August 1813Sold 1836
2 November 1812Mrs. Mary Ross, Rochester30 August 1813Wrecked, with the loss of all her crew, between Moyin Head and the Three Castles Head near Crookhaven, Ireland, in 1822.
2 November 1812Thomas Pitcher, Northfleet13 July 1813Sold 1832
2 November 1812Jabez Bayley, Ipswich15 July 1813Sold at Jamaica 1829
2 November 1812Jabez Bayley, Ipswich28 July 1813Sold 1829
14 August 1813Edward Larking & William Spong, King's Lynn18 June 1814Sold 1828
14 August 1813Edward Larking & William Spong, King's Lynn13 November 1814Sold 1838
Samarang6 September 1815Portsmouth Dockyard Cancelled 30 September 1820

Citations and references

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