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The Dutch corvette Waakzaamheid was launched at Enkhuizen in 1786. The French Navy captured her in 1794 and renamed her Vigilance. She was part of a squadron that in 1794 captured or destroyed a large number of British merchant vessels on the Guinea coast. The French returned her to the Dutch (the Batavian Republic), in 1795. The Dutch Navy returned her name to Waakzaamheid. The British Royal Navy captured her without a fight in 1798. She then served as HMS Waaksaamheid until she was sold in September 1802.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Dutch Republic | |
| Operator | Admiralty Noorderkwartier[1] |
| Builder | J. Hand, Enkhuizen[1] |
| Launched | 1786 |
| Captured | 23 May 1794 |
 France | |
| Name | Vigilance |
| Acquired | 23 May 1794 by capture |
| Fate | Sold 1795 |
 Batavian Republic | |
| Name | Waazaamheid |
| Acquired | 1795 by purchase |
| Captured | 24 October 1798 |
 Great Britain | |
| Name | HMS Waaksaamheidt |
| Acquired | 24 October 1798 by capture |
| Fate | Sold September 1802 |
| General characteristics [2][3] | |
| Class and type | |
| Tons burthen | 50384⁄94, or 504 (bm) |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Depth | 12+9⁄11 voet |
| Depth of hold | 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m) |
| Complement |
|
| Armament |
|
Waakzaamheid
Waakzaamheid was launched in 1786.
Vigilance
The French Navy captured Waaksamheid on 23 May 1794. They renamed her Vigilance. She then served in a squadron on the Guinea Coast.[2]
In September 1794 a French naval squadron comprising the razee Experiment, Vigilance, Félicité, Épervier, and Mutine was cruising the West African coast, destroying British factories and shipping.[4] Among many other vessels they captured two vessels belonging to the Sierra Leone Company, Harpy, and Thornton, and Molly.
In 1795 the French sold Vigilance to the Batavian Republic.[2]
Waakzamheid
On 24 October 1798 HMS Sirius (1797) captured in the Texel Waakzaamheid and the frigate Furie.[5] Waakzaamheid was under the command of Senior Captain Neirrop. She was armed with twenty-four 9-pounder guns on her main deck and two 6-pounders on her forecastle. She had 100 Dutch seamen aboard her, as well as 122 French troops, and was carrying 2000 stands of arms as well as other ordnance stores.[5] Waakzaamheid put up no struggle. The sloop Kite shared in the capture.[6]
Thomas Whitcombe, 1816.
HMS Waaksaamheid
Waaksamheid arrived at Sheerness on 17 November 1798. She underwent fitting there between July 1799 and May 1800.
In August 1800 Waaksamheid= was part of fleet under the command of Vice-admiral Archibald Dickson that accompanied a diplomatic mission to Copenhagen under Lord Whitworth. The fleet does not appear to have gone beyond The Skaw.[7] The fleet returned to Yarmouth on 14 September.
Captain Robert Hall was promoted to post captain on 18 November 1799. After his return to England on 31 August 1800 as captain of HMS Assistance, he took command of Waaksamheid on the North Sea station.[8]
In 1800 Waaksaamheid participated in cruises off the Dutch coast in Dickson's squadron, and escorted convoys in the North Sea between the Baltic and Leith. On 11 October 1801 she was at Sheerness, waiting to be paid off following the signing of the Peace of Amiens.
The "Principal Officers and Commissioners of his Majesty's Navy" offered "Waaksamheidt, 504 Tons, Copper-bottomed, and Copper braces, and Pintles, lying at Deptford", for sale on 1 August 1802.[9] She was offered for sale again on 9 September. She sold then.[3]
- All linear measurements are in Amsterdam feet (voet) of 11 Amsterdam inches (duim) (see Dutch units of measurement). The Amsterdam foot is about 8% shorter than an English foot. The basis of measurement is also different.
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