HMS Malta was originally a Spanish 10-gun schooner, constructed and launched in the United States in 1797. The vessel’s design as a schooner would have featured a fore-and-aft rig, typical of the period’s small warships, although specific dimensions are not provided in the available information. In 1800, the Royal Navy captured her, integrating her into British service. Following her capture, the vessel was initially known as HMS Malta. However, after the British seized the French ship-of-the-line Guillaume Tell and renamed her HMS Malta, the Admiralty renamed the schooner Malta to Gozo in December 1800, after the Maltese island of Gozo. This renaming was part of a broader practice of reassigning names to captured vessels. During her service with the Royal Navy, Gozo was actively involved in operations during the Egyptian campaign (March to September 1801). She was one of six British warships present when HMS Penelope captured the French bombard St. Roche on January 8, 1801. The vessel played a role in supporting landings and troop movements; notably, on March 8, she, alongside Entreprenante and Negresse, protected the right flank during a troop landing at Aboukir Bay. The vessel's participation in these actions contributed to her crew qualifying for the Naval General Service Medal with the clasp "Egypt." On June 9, 1801, Gozo captured the chasse maree Trompeuse, which was en route to Ancona, demonstrating her active engagement in patrolling and capturing enemy vessels. The vessel served in the fleet under Admiral Lord Keith during this campaign, underscoring her operational significance in the Mediterranean theater. Gozo was sold in 1804, marking the end of her brief but active service. Her career exemplifies the typical pattern of small, versatile schooners used by the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, both for patrol, escort, and support roles in key campaigns.

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