HMS Siren (1773) explained

HMS Siren (or Syren[1]) was a 28-gun sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. Siren was first commissioned in August 1775 under the command of Captain Tobias Furneaux, her only commanding officer.

Service

She took part in the Battle of the Rice Boats on 2–3 March 1776 on the border between the Province of Georgia and the Province of South Carolina and in the Battle of Sullivan's Island of 28 June 1776 upon Charleston, South Carolina. On 5 June, 1777 she captured "Jammy" off Cape Sambro. Sometime in September 1777 she captured "Batchelor" off Block Island and sometime in the 1st week of November she captured "Succsess" also off Block Island.[2]

Fate

Siren, escorting a convoy in poor visibility, ran aground at about 6:00 am on 6 November 1777 near Point Judith, along with two other ships. Efforts were made to bring her off, but American forces ashore brought up field artillery and prevented salvage operations. Siren was abandoned with the loss of 2 killed and 5 wounded.[3] [4]

Post script

The sloop Mary Ann, which had a diving machine, arrived at Newport, Rhode Island on 24 July 1815. She had retrieved Syrens best bower anchor and a quantity of iron knees.[5]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Spelling during the period was not fixed.
  2. Web site: Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 11 AMERICAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778 EUROPEAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778 . U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio . 27 September 2023.
  3. Book: David J. Hepper. British warship losses in the age of sail, 1650-1859. 1994. Jean Boudriot. 978-0-948864-30-8.
  4. Winfield (2007)
  5. 5 August 1815, Providence Patriot, Columbian Phenix (Providence, RI, United States), Volume: 13, Issue: 30.