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HMS Surpriseby a compiliation of authors
 The above model HMS Surprise was constructed by Premier Ship Models of the UK. The Surprise, was made famous by the writings of Patrick O’Brian, in his books on the adventures of Captain Aubrey and the surgeon Maturin, described by the world famous writer as his favourite ship. A short history of the original Surprise is listed below. The fabulous frigate was constructed in Le Havre as L’Unite in 1794. It was a 24-gun corvette, armed with 8lb long guns. The British captured her in April 1796 in the Mediterranean, and her name changed to the HMS Surprise. She was re-armed and classed as a 28-gun ship. She actually carried 24 32 lb carronades on her main deck, 8 32 lb carronades on her quarter deck, and 4 6 lb long guns on her foredeck. French frigates were much sought after by the British, because of their manoeuvrability and speed. The streamlined design of the hull below the waterline meant that these frigates could out run most other ships. On 4 October 1799 the French schooner NANCY was captured near Cape de la Vela. She was bound for Curacoa with coffee from Aux Cayes. The Dutch privateer schooner LAME DUCK of 10 guns was cut out from the harbour of Aruba on 15 October, Mr. John BUSEY, acting lieutenant, was killed. A Spanish schooner, MANUEL, was destroyed near Porto Cavallo on the 20th. On 25 October Capt. HAMILTON attacked and cut out from Porto Cavallo the HERMIONE, 32, which had been handed over to the Spanish by her mutinous crew at La Guira on 22 September 1797. In spite of 200 pieces of cannon mounted in the batteries around the harbour, her boats, with 100 men including officers led by Capt. HAMILTON, attacked the HERMIONE at half past twelve in the morning, after beating off HERMIONE's launch, which carried a 24-pounder and twenty men, which was rowing guard around the frigate. The forecastle was taken by half the force without much resistance but on the quarter-deck and the main deck there was dreadful carnage before the enemy retreated to the 'tween decks where the fighting continued until the enemy's ammunition was exhausted. In the meantime the rest of the men were cutting cables, making sail and towing the ship out of range of gun-shot from the shore to bring her alongside SURPRISE. Her captain, Don Romon de Chalas, said that she had been thoroughly repaired and was ready for sea with a ship's company of 321 officers and sailors, 56 soldiers and 15 artillery men. She mounted 44 guns. 119 of the Spanish crew were killed and 228 prisoners, including 97 wounded, were landed at Porto Cavallo.
Capt. HAMILTON brought his prize into Port Royal harbour at Jamaica on 1 November. The Receiver-General at Spanish Town, Jamaica, was ordered by the Assembly there to forward to the captain's agent the sum of three hundred guineas for the purchase of a sword in recognition. On 6 March 1800 the Court of Common Council at the Guildhall, London, resolved that Capt. HAMILTON should be presented with the freedom of the city with a gold box valued at fifty guineas.
Specifications Length: 100cm Height: 72cm Width: 34cm Click picture to view larger pictures. 
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