History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Asp
Namesake	Asp
Ordered	7 February 1797
Builder	John Randall, Rotherhithe
Laid down	February 1797
Launched	10 April 1797
Honours and awards	Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Egypt"
Fate	Sold c.July 1803
General characteristics [1]
Class and type	Acute-class gunbrig
Tons burthen	15885⁄94 (bm)
Length	Overall:75 ft 1 in (22.9 m) Keel:61 ft 7+3⁄4 in (18.8 m)
Beam	22 ft 1 in (6.7 m)
Depth of hold	7 ft 11+1⁄4 in (2.4 m)
Complement	50
Armament	12 × 18-pounder carronades + 2 × 24-pounder bow chasers

HMS Asp was an Acute-class gunbrig (ex-GB No.5), of the British Royal Navy. The Navy disposed of her in 1803.

Career

Lieutenant Joseph Edmonds commissioned Asp in April 1797,^[1] for the Channel.

In 1798 she participated in Sir Home Popham's failed attack on Ostend. While she engaged shore batteries four hours in support of a landing by troops she had one seaman killed, and Lieutenant Edmonds was wounded.^[2]

Between 1798 and 1803 she was under the command of Lieutenant Isaac Ferriers.^[1] Asp and Biter shared in the proceeds of the capture on 18 June 1799 of the galliot Jane.^[3]

In July 1800 Asp escorted a convoy to the West Indies.^[1]

Because Asp served in the navy's Egyptian campaign between 8 March 1801 and 2 September, her officers and crew qualified for the clasp "Egypt" to the Naval General Service Medal that the Admiralty issued in 1847 to all surviving claimants.^[4]

Fate

Asp was paid-off on 15 February 1803. She was sold circa July 1803.^[1]

Citations

References

• Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.