HMS Serpent was originally a Dutch hoy that the British Admiralty acquired in 1794 for use by the Royal Navy. As a hoy, a small, flat-bottomed sailing vessel typically used for coastal and harbor duties, she was repurposed for military service. After her purchase, she was fitted out at Woolwich between April 1794 and April 1795, and was commissioned in April 1794 under Lieutenant John Lundin. During her service, HMS Serpent played a role in the defense of the Îles Saint-Marcouf, a strategic group of two islands located approximately three and a half miles from the French coast and nine miles southeast of Cape La Hogue. The islands were heavily fortified with shore batteries and redoubts constructed by the British, who assigned all their gunvessels, including Serpent, to their defense. The vessel was part of the British force that successfully repelled a French attack on 7 September, when French forces launched a sizable assault involving 17 large boats filled with troops. The French attack was driven off after coming under fire from the redoubts and gunvessels, including Serpent, which contributed to the confusion and retreat of the French forces. Notably, material from Serpent was later used in the construction of a battery on East Island. HMS Serpent was paid off in 1796, indicating she was taken out of active service. She remained in existence until around 1802, when orders were issued at Portsmouth for her to be recommissioned along with other vessels, such as the cutter Swan and the ship Bulldog; however, there is no record that Serpent was actually recommissioned. She was ultimately sold around 1802, marking the end of her brief but active service period. Her role exemplifies the use of small vessels like hoys in coastal defense and amphibious operations during the late 18th century, highlighting their importance in the British naval strategy against France during this period.

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