HMS Surly was a Cheerful-class cutter built in 1806, designed by Sir John Henslow. She measured 46 feet 9+3/8 inches (14.259 meters) in keel length, with a beam of 23 feet 6 inches (7.16 meters) and a hold depth of 10 feet (3 meters). The vessel displaced approximately 13,739/94 tons burthen and was armed with a total of twelve guns, consisting of two 4-pounder cannons and ten 12-pounder carronades, mounted on a gundeck measuring 63 feet (19 meters). She was crewed by about 50 men. Constructed by Joseph Johnson at Dover, her keel was laid in July 1806, and she was launched on 15 November 1806. She was fitted out at Sheerness Dockyard and commissioned on 12 December 1806 under Lieutenant Peter Crawford. HMS Surly primarily served during the Napoleonic Wars, notably capturing the French privateer L'Alcide off Granville in 1809, alongside brigs Firm and Sharpshooter. Throughout her service, Surly saw various commands, including Lieutenant Mark Lucas from September 1815 and Lieutenant John Hill from May 1816. After being paid off in September 1818, she was reduced to eight guns and stationed at the Nore. Her duties included carrying significant coin shipments between Dublin and London in 1825 and later assisting civil authorities in suppressing seaman strikes on the River Wear, where she played a role in restoring order and surveying navigational hazards. Later, Surly patrolled the Scottish coast and participated in anti-smuggling operations in the Thames Estuary. Notably, her commander, Lieutenant Woollnough, used her and her crew for survey work, including charting dangerous rocks near Sunderland, earning commendations from high-ranking officials. She underwent moderate repairs in 1826 and was refitted as a lighter in 1833. Ultimately, HMS Surly was sold in 1837 for £400, ending a notable career in naval service and civil maritime operations.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.