HMS Wagtail (1806)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Wagtail.

HMS Wagtail was a Royal Navy Cuckoo-class schooner launched in 1806 by James Lovewell at Great Yarmouth.^[1] Like many of her class and the related Ballahoo-class schooners, she succumbed to the perils of the sea relatively early in her career.

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Wagtail
Ordered	11 December 1805
Builder	James Lovewell, Great Yarmouth
Laid down	February 1806
Launched	12 April 1806
Fate	Wrecked 13 February 1807
General characteristics [1]
Class & type	Cuckoo-class schooner
Tons burthen	751⁄94 (bm)
Length	56 ft 4 in (17.2 m) (overall) 42 ft 4+1⁄8 in (12.9 m) (keel)
Beam	18 ft 3 in (5.6 m)
Draught	Unladen: 5 ft 1+1⁄2 in (1.6 m) Laden: 7 ft 6+1⁄2 in (2.3 m)
Depth of hold	8 ft 5 in (2.6 m)
Sail plan	Schooner
Complement	20
Armament	4 × 12-pounder carronades

She was commissioned in 1806 under Lieutenant William Cullis.^[1] She was wrecked on 13 February 1807 at Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel in the Azores, three hours after her sister ship Woodcock was wrecked, and near Woodcock's water-logged remains.^[2] Both vessels had been anchored in the shelter of an islet off the town when a gale came up. Because of the storm they were unable to clear the land.^[2]

Wagtail's cables held until 8 pm. Then her cables parted, and with waves breaking over her, Cullis ran her ashore. One man of the 18 men in her crew drowned.^[3]