H.M.S. Surprise, ex L'Unite, a museum quality 1/48th scale h...

Hammer

£2,000

H.M.S. Surprise, ex L'Unite, a museum quality 1/48th scale hand built ships model, built by L. Callan, Hull, c.2013, over 20 months, with copper plated hull, planked decks, rigging and crew, mounted in a Perspex and oak cabinet, 160 x 53 x 113cm.
Designed by Pierre-Alexandre Forfait, the French corvette Unité, was launched in 1794. In 1796 Captain Thomas Fremantle, in command of the frigate HMS Inconstant, sailed alongside, boarded and captured Unité intact due to a French misjudgement. She was renamed the Surprise and joined the Mediterranean Fleet, taking part in the Battle of St. Vincent.
Captain Edward Hamilton was appointed her captain and gained fame for the cutting-out expedition on 25 October 1799 of HMS Hermione. Hermione's crew had mutinied, and had sailed her into the Spanish possession of Puerto Cabello. Hamilton of Surprise led a boarding party to retake Hermione and, after an exceptionally bloody action, sailed her out under Spanish gunfire. The Spanish casualties included 119 dead; 231 were taken prisoner, while another 15 jumped or fell overboard. Hamilton had 11 injured, four seriously, but none killed.
After the Treaty of Amiens, the Royal Navy sold Surprise out of the service at Deptford in February 1802 and she was broken up.