French brig Carlotta (1807)

The French brig Carlotta was a brig-rigged corvetta-cannoniera or, corvetta-brig, of 10 guns, launched in 1807 at Venice as Fiamma that served the French Navy as Carlotta.[1] HMS Belle Poule captured her in 1810 and the British Royal Navy took her into service as HMS Carlotta. She was wrecked in 1812.

Carlotta
History
French Navy EnsignFrance
NameFiamma
BuilderAndrea Salvinin, Venice[1]
Laid downJune 1807
Launched2 December 1807[1]
RenamedCarlotta
CapturedDecember 1810
United Kingdom
NameHMS Carlotta
AcquiredDecember 1810 by capture
FateWrecked January 1812
General characteristics [1][2]
Displacement200 tons (French)
Tons burthen204894 (bm)
Length
  • 90 ft 6 in (27.58 m) (overall)
  • 74 ft 8 in (22.76 m) (keel)
Beam22 ft 8 in (6.91 m)
Depth of hold8 ft 2 in (2.49 m)
Sail planBrig
Complement66 (French service)
Armament
  • Originally: 8 × 8-pounder guns or 10 × 6-pounder guns
  • British service: 14 guns

Origins

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Carlotta followed a design by Andrea Salvini and he probably built her; Napoleon was reportedly at her launch. In 1810 she was at Goro-Primaro, the southernmost branch of the river Po.[1]

Capture

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On 11 December 1810 Carlotta was sailing from Venice to Corfu when she encountered Belle Poule. Carlotta's captors described her as "La Carlotta Italian brig of war of Ten Guns and One Hundred Men".[3] The Royal Navy took her into service as HMS Carlotta, and Admiral Edward Pellew appointed Lieutenant James Oliver to command her.[4]

Several British vessels shared in the proceeds of her capture. One prize money notice allocated head-money, ordnance stores, and one fourth of the proceeds of the hull to Belle Poule, hull, stores, and ordnance stores to Montague, and the ordnance stores and one fourth of the proceeds of the hull to Acorn.[5] A later notice announced a payment to the officers and crew of Imogen.[a]

Fate

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On 26 January 1812 a violent gale, together with a strong current, drove Carlotta onto Cape Passaro, wrecking her.[7] Oliver's exertions in saving a cargo of specie and consequent fatigue aggravated a previous wound, costing him the sight in one eye. Still, in 1813 he was appointed first lieutenant on Sultan.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ A first-class share of the prize money was worth £42 5s 3+34d; a sixth-class share, that of an ordinary seaman, was worth 8s 7d.[6]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e Winfield & Roberts (2015), pp. 219–20.
  2. ^ Winfield (2008), p. 349.
  3. ^ "No. 16462". The London Gazette. 9 March 1811. p. 460.
  4. ^ a b Marshall (1833), p. 143.
  5. ^ "No. 16705". The London Gazette. 20 February 1813. p. 380.
  6. ^ "No. 16993". The London Gazette. 14 March 1815. p. 485.
  7. ^ Hepper (1994), p. 139.

References

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  • Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650–1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
  • Marshall, John (1833). "Oliver, James" . Royal Naval Biography. Vol. 4, part 1. London: Longman and company. p. 140–143.
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.
  • Winfield, Rif; Roberts, Stephen S. (2015). French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786–1861: Design Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-204-2.