HMS Falcon (1820)

HMS Falcon was a 10-gun built for the Royal Navy during the 1810s. Completed in 1821, she was sold out of the service in 1838.

Description

The Cherokee-class brig-sloops were designed by Henry Peake, they were nicknamed 'coffin brigs' for the large number that either wrecked or foundered in service, but modern analysis has not revealed any obvious design faults. They were probably sailed beyond their capabilities by inexperienced captains tasked to perform arduous and risky duties. Whatever their faults, they were nimble; quick to change tack and, with a smaller crew, more economical to run. Falcon displaced and measured long at the gundeck. She had a beam of, a depth of hold of, a deep draught of and a tonnage of 235 tons burthen. The ships had a complement of 52 men when fully manned, but only 33 as a packet ship. The armament of the Cherokee class consisted of ten muzzle-loading, smoothbore guns: eight carronades and two guns positioned in the bow for use as chase guns.

Construction and career

Falcon was ordered on 13 June 1817 and laid down in June 1818 at Pembroke Dockyard. The ship was launched on 10 June 1820 and was fitted out from 27 June to 3 August 1821. She was not commissioned until 1828 when she was assigned to the Cape of Good Hope and then to the West Indies. After an unsuccessful installation of a steam engine in 1833–1834, Falcon was sold for mercantile use on 16 August 1838 and renamed Waterwitch.