HMS SURPRISE
British Frigate 1796
Captured by the H.MS. Inconstant in 1796, the French corvette L'Unite was converted
into a 28-gun sixth-rate and renamed H.M.S. Surprise. She carried twenty-four
32-pound carronades on her main deck, eight on her quarter deck and forecastle,
plus four 6-pound long guns as chasers. H.M.S. Surprise is the real vessel in
Patrick O’Brien’s famous fictional works that tell of Captain Jack Aubrey's adventures,
as he sets out on dangerous missions and holds his ground against various enemies.
It’s also the star of the recent hit movie, Master & Commander: The Far Side of
the World.