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
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
The crew of Surprise boarding Hermione
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
HMS Surprise (1796)
…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 HMS Hermione. In 1802 Surprise was sold out of the service. Historical fiction author Patrick O'Brian set many of his Aubrey–Maturin series aboard HMS Surprise. The…
Painting of Santa Cecilia (centre-left) being recaptured in 1799