HMS Volage was a Laurel-class sixth-rate post-ship of the Royal Navy, launched on 23 March 1807 by Richard Chapman of Bideford. As a sixth-rate vessel, she was armed with approximately 40 guns, reflecting her classification and role during her active service. Commissioned in May 1807 under Captain Philip Rosenhagen, she quickly engaged in the Napoleonic Wars, operating primarily in the Mediterranean. Her service record includes notable success in capturing enemy vessels, such as the French cutter Succès off Galita Island in November 1807. Succès was a ten-gun vessel with 59 men, suspected by Rosenhagen to be carrying despatches or possibly in British service as the Sussex. In 1808, Volage captured the French brig Requin after a vigorous chase that lasted nine hours; Requin was armed with 16 guns and had 108 crew members. This engagement was intense, involving firefights and strategic maneuvering, and was part of the broader naval conflict in the Mediterranean. She also captured privateers Annunciate and Jason in September 1809, further disrupting enemy privateering efforts. In 1810, Volage participated in operations near Corsica, destroying vessels supporting Joachim Murat’s army in Sicily. Her most significant action was at the Battle of Lissa in 1811, where she fought against a larger French force, sustaining casualties of 13 killed and 33 wounded, and suffering considerable damage. The battle was a notable victory for the Royal Navy, and all surviving claimants from this action were later awarded the Naval General Service Medal with the clasp "Lissa." Following her combat achievements, Volage was dispatched to the East Indies, where she supported operations in Borneo and the China seas, including the capture of the pirate settlement at Sambas. She underwent several changes in command before being decommissioned and sold in 1818. She was purchased for mercantile use and renamed Rochester, serving as a commercial vessel for another 12 years. Her post-naval career included voyages to India and the South Seas as a whaler, where she was notable for her extensive travels and large cargo of whale oil. Last listed in Lloyd’s List in 1831, Rochester’s career exemplifies the transition from naval service to commercial enterprise in the early 19th century, reflecting the versatility and enduring utility of ships built 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.