HMS Hermione (1782)
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HMS Hermione was the lead ship of the Hermione class, a six-ship class of 32-gun fifth-rate frigates of the Royal Navy. She was launched on 9 September 1782, at Bristol. Hermione was commissioned and
Painting of Santa Cecilia (centre-left) being recaptured in 1799
British sailors and marines boarding Hermione
HMS Surprise (1796)
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HMS Surprise was the name the Royal Navy gave to the French Navy's corvette Unité after its capture in 1796. Unité was launched on 16 January 1794. Surprise gained fame in 1799 for the recapture of HM
HMS Hermione (1782)
…murdered. The mutineers then handed the ship over to the Spanish on 27 September 1797, who renamed her Santa Cecilia. On 25 October 1799, boats from HMS Surprise under Captain Edward Hamilton, cut her out of Puerto Cabello harbour. She was returned to Royal Navy service under the name Retaliation and the British…
Boats from Surprise (far right) towing Hermione away from the fort's batteries
The replica of HMS Rose in 2000 painted to resemble Surprise at O'Brian's suggestion