HMS Surprise — Royal Navy Frigate Model, Handcrafted Wood | Admiral Line
HMS Surprise — Royal Navy Frigate Model, Handcrafted Wood | Admiral Line
Model details
- Materials
- Mahogany, Western red cedar, Rosewood, Brass, Linen sails
- Construction
- Plank-on-frame, built by hand
- Condition
- Fully assembled, ready to display
- Display
- Wooden base with brass nameplate
- Collection
- Tall Ship Models - Admiral Line
- Item no.
- T191
The frigate from Master and Commander — and before that, from twenty volumes of Patrick O'Brian.
Built plank on frame in western red cedar, rosewood and mahogany, laid one plank at a time over a wooden frame. Fully assembled, no kit.
Construction
- Plank-on-frame hull with the fine entry and low freeboard of a sixth-rate frigate
- Gun deck battery with cast cannon both sides
- Three masts and bowsprit with complete hand-knotted standing and running rigging
- Hand-stitched linen sails on every yard
- Ship's boats, capstan, wheel, gratings, ladders and rails
- Metal anchors and wooden rudder
- Solid wood base and engraved brass nameplate
History
She was French first — the corvette Unité, launched at Le Havre in 1794 and captured by HMS Inconstant in April 1796. The Royal Navy rated her a 28-gun sixth rate and renamed her Surprise. In 1799 she took part in the cutting-out of HMS Hermione from Puerto Cabello, one of the boldest boat actions of the war. She was sold and broken up in 1802.
Patrick O'Brian gave her a second life as Jack Aubrey's ship, and the 2003 film built its Surprise on the hull of the replica Rose, now moored in San Diego.