HMS Apelles (1808)

HMS Apelles was a Crocus-class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1808 and sold in 1816. During her service she grounded on the French coast and was in French hands for about a day before the British recaptured her. During her career she captured two French privateers.

Career
Commander Thomas Oliver was appointed captain of Apelles in September 1808. She participated in the ill-fated Walcheren Campaign. Starting on 30 July 1809, a British armed force of 39,000 men landed on Walcheren. However, the French fleet had left Flushing (Vlissingen) and sailed to Antwerp, and the British lost over 4,000 men to "Walcheren Fever", a combination of malaria and typhus, and to enemy action. As the strategic reasons for the campaign dissipated and conditions worsened, the British force withdrew in December. Prize money arising from the net proceeds of the property captured at Walcheren and the adjacent islands in the Scheld was paid in October 1812.

On 19 October 1810 Apelles captured the French privateer Somnambule (or Somnus), of 18 guns and 56 men, off Dieppe. The privateer was so damaged in the engagement before she surrendered that Oliver had to scuttle her.

Before Apelles captured her the privateer had captured the sloop Friends. While Apelles was in sight, HMS Sarpedon (1809) recaptured the Friends, and sent her into Dover. French sources report that Somnambule was a chasse maree under the command of M. Sauvage, with lieutenant de vaisseau F. Lecomte as his second-in-command. In the engagement a musket ball killed Sauvage, and Lecomte took over, and it was he that struck, though not before he himself was wounded.

Commander Frederick Hoffman assumed command in December, relieving Oliver. Apelles's officers had informed Admiral George Campbell that Oliver was insane, and that discipline on the sloop had deteriorated. Campbell ordered a Court of Inquiry, and as a result of its report, gently suggested to Oliver that he resign, which, after some hesitation, he did. Hoffman recommissioned her in early 1811.


 * Captured by the French

Apelles and HMS Skylark (1806) were blockading the French coast between Cape Gris Nez and Étaples when at 3am on the morning of 3 May 1812 a thick fog descended. Within 45 minutes Skylark had grounded.

All efforts to free Skylark failed and in the morning shore batteries started firing on her as French troops started to gather. The crew set fire to Skylark and left in her boats.

Apelles too had run aground in the fog at about 4am, and within sight of Skylark. Shore batteries fired on Apelles too, and troops gathered. All efforts to free her failed and by 6am Commander Frederick Hoffman ordered his crew into the boats. Unfortunately there was not enough room for all, so Hoffman and 19 of his men stayed behind. Commander Boxer, of Skylark, came alongside in a boat and urged Hoffman to leave, but Hoffman refused to do so while some of his men were still on board. As more French troops arrived with field artillery, Hoffman raised a white flag at about 6:30am. Before he gave up his ship, Hoffman and the purser burned all Apelles's signal books and other instructions.

The French took Hoffman and his men prisoner and refloated Apelles. However, the next day HMS Bermuda (1808) and HMS Rinaldo (1808) arrived and were able to drive Apelles on shore. Then HMS Castillian (1809) and HMS Phipps (1808) arrived. Gunfire from the British squadron drove the French off, permitting boats from Bermuda to recapture Apelles.


 * Return to service

Between May and September Apelles underwent refitting at Sheerness. She then came under the command of Commander Charles Robb.

Robb was already captain in December when Apelles captured the Danish vessels No. 23 (3 December), Haabet (13 December), and Falken (20 December).

At daybreak on 18 February 1813, Apelles captured the French privateer cutter Ravisseur at latitude 57° l0'N, longitude 5° 30'E. Ravisseur was armed with ten 9-pounder carronades and four long 6-pounder guns, and had a crew of 51 men under the command of M. Alexander Happey. She was 12 days out of Dunkirk and had intended to cruise off Flamborough Head, but westerly gales had driven her eastward. She had not made any captures.

Commander Robb drowned on 27 February when a gale of wind washed him overboard off the Isle of May. He was assisting in throwing her guns overboard to lighten her.

Commander Alexander McVicar (or M'Vicar) was appointed to Apelles on 8 March, and recommissioned her that month for the North Sea. McVicar tested a new patent compass in July and wrote a testimonial letter on 13 June. Vice-Admiral Robert Otway had ordered him to test the compass belonging to Mr. Alexander, of Leith, and McVicar used it for some nine weeks, finding it better than the other compasses on Apelles. It was quick to come on point and held its direction in heavy seas and despite shocks such as guns firing or seas striking.

On 11 December 1813, Apelles captured the Speculation. Speculation, of Bergen, Fornguest, master, reached Leith on 21 December.

In 1814 Apelles visited Archangel, having sailed from Leith with a fleet.

Fate
Apelles was paid off into ordinary in September 1815. The Admiralty offered her for sale at Sheerness on 17 February 1816. Mr. Marclark purchased her on 6 March 1816 for £800.

Notes, citations, and references

 * Notes


 * Citations


 * References
 * Beckford Bevan, A. and H.B. Wolryche (eds.), (1901) A Sailor of King George: The Journals of Captain Frederick Hoffman, R.N. 1793–1814. (London: John Murray).
 * Grocott, Terence (1997) Shipwrecks of the revolutionary & Napoleonic eras (Chatham). ISBN 1-86176-030-2
 * Gallois, Napoléon (1845) Les Corsaires français sous la République at l'Empire. (Le Mans: Julien, Lanier).
 * Hoffman, Frederick W. (1901) A sailor of King George: the journals of Captain Frederick Hoffman, R, Issues 1793-1814. (J. Murray).
 * Marshall, John (1823–1835) Royal naval biography, or, Memoirs of the services of all the flag-officers, superannuated rear-admirals, retired-captains, post-captains, and commanders, whose names appeared on the Admiralty list of sea officers at the commencement of the present year 1823, or who have since been promoted ... (London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown).