HMS Terror was an 8-gun bomb ketch launched in 1759 for the British Royal Navy. Constructed as a relatively small vessel, she was equipped with bomb armament, designed for shore bombardment and support roles. Her dimensions and specific construction details are not provided, but as an 8-gun bomb ketch, she would have been a versatile vessel capable of both offensive and auxiliary functions. Commissioned in January 1759 under Commander William Bennet, Terror sailed to the Mediterranean in April of that year. She was subsequently commanded by Commander Michael Kearny from August 1759 and later by Commander St John Chinnery in April 1861, the latter still serving in the Mediterranean. During her naval service, she underwent several modifications: she was converted to a sloop in 1761 and reverted to a bomb in 1762, reflecting her adaptability for different naval roles. She was paid off in March 1763 and underwent repairs, but apparently was not recommissioned afterward. In 1774, the Navy sold her at Deptford for £665, marking the end of her naval career. Renamed Union by her new owners, she transitioned into commercial service as a Greenland whaler, making two voyages during the 1775 and 1776 whaling seasons. Notably, Union was engaged in the British northern whale fishery, with records indicating her presence at Greenland with two "fish" in June 1775 and returning from Greenland with four fish and 50 seals in August 1776. She first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1776, confirming her transition to civilian use. Union’s maritime history ended when she was wrecked near Tellicherry on the Malabar coast of India on 20 May 1782. At the time, she was serving as an ordnance store ship along with the vessel Prudence. A storm drove both ships from Calicut roads, and they wrecked on the reefs at Cotta Point after being unable to escape. Her loss was noted in Lloyd's List in 1783, marking the end of her nearly two-decade-long service life spanning naval, whaling, and transport roles.

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