HMS Leopard ‘A Lucky Escape’

HMS Leopard has a lucky escape in the Southern Ocean after a long desperate chase by a Dutch 74 gun, man o war.

Throughout history, there have been eleven Royal Navy ships carrying this name. This one was built in 1790. She was a Portland-class, fourth-rate ship carrying 50 guns. HMS Leopard served during both the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. She was later wrecked in 1814.

HMS Leopard, painted fictionally here, is in the notorious Southern Ocean, after a long desperate chase by a larger Dutch Man O War. The ‘Horrible’old Leopard as she is known by some, has just fired her stern chasers and scored a somewhat lucky hit. After this shot, the foremast of the Dutch ship has gone by the board. When this happens it causes her to broach, inevitably sending her with a full crew to their watery graves. It was inspired by a literary chapter I have read.

This is my latest painting of this kind, my other ship paintings can be found here.