HMS Thais (1829)

HMS Thais was a ten-gun launched in 1829. She immediately became a Post Office Packet Service packet, sailing from Falmouth. She was lost in 1833 with all hands.

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. Thais 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 230 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

Thais was ordered on 25 March 1823 and laid down in June 1826 at Pembroke Dockyard. The ship was launched on 12 October 1829 and completed as a packet ship with six guns on 23 February 1832. She was commissioned on 25 May and was assigned to the Falmouth packet service.
Thais, Lieutenant Charles Church, sailed from Falmouth on 12 December 1833, bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was last seen southwest of Ireland. In March and April 1834, her wreckage washed ashore at Galway, Ireland. It is presumed that she foundered soon after her last sighting. A letter by a Capt. King, presumably found in the wreckage, reported that by 24 December she was at, heading northward with the wind WNW.