HMS Speedy (1782)

HMS Speedy was an 14-gun Alert-class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy, launched in 1782. She is most famous for her service under the command of Captain Lord Cochrane (later the 10th Earl of Dundonald) between 1800 and 1801, during the Napoleonic Wars.

Built by Henry Adams at Buckler's Hard, the Speedy was relatively small and considered by some to be an unremarkable vessel. Her dimensions were approximately 74 feet in length and 24 feet in beam. She carried fourteen 4-pounder cannons, giving her a relatively light armament, and a crew of around 54 men.

Despite her size and limited firepower, the Speedy achieved considerable success under Cochrane's command. He employed daring and innovative tactics, often engaging much larger enemy vessels through surprise, deception, and aggressive boarding maneuvers.

The Speedy's most notable action was her capture of the Spanish xebec-frigate El Gamo, a vessel significantly larger and more heavily armed, on 6 May 1801. Cochrane’s victory, despite being outgunned and outnumbered, became a legendary feat of naval daring and greatly enhanced his reputation.

The Speedy's career ended on 3 July 1801, when she was captured by a French squadron under the command of Admiral Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois. She was eventually condemned as unseaworthy and broken up. Despite her short service life, HMS Speedy remains a famous example of a small, but exceptionally well-handled, warship.