USS Wasp ( 1807 ) USS " Wasp " of the United States Navy was a sailing sloop of war captured by the British in the early months of the War of 1812 . She was constructed in 1806 at the Washington Navy Yard , was commissioned sometime in 1807 , Master Commandant John Smith in command . In 1812 she captured , but was immediately herself captured . The British took her into service first as HMS " Loup Cervier " and then as HMS " Peacock " . She was lost , presumed foundered with all hands , in mid - 1814 . US Service . In 1808 " Wasp " was heavily involved in supporting Jefferson ' s Embargo , including delivering an army garrison from New York City to Passamaquoddy in June , patrolling Casco Bay , Maine , in the winter of 1808 - 1809 , and remaining at Portland until May , 1809 . In the final weeks of 1810 , she was operating from the ports of Charleston , South Carolina , and Savannah , Georgia , presumably patrolling the waters along southern Atlantic coast . In 1811 , she sailed to Hampton Roads , Virginia , where she and the brig joined frigates and in forming a squadron commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur . " Wasp " , under the command of Master Commandant Jacob Jones continued to operate along the coast of the middle states after the United States went to war with Britain in June 1812 . Her single action of that war came in October 1812 . On the 13th , she sailed from the Delaware River and , two days later , encountered a heavy gale which tore away her jib boom which also washed two crewmen overboard . The following evening , " Wasp " encountered a squadron of ships and , in spite of the fact that two of their number appeared to be large men - of - war , made for them straight away . She finally caught the enemy convoy the following morning and discovered six merchantmen under the protection of a 22 - gun sloop - of - war , HMS " Frolic " . At half past eleven in the morning of 15 October , " Wasp " and " Frolic " closed to do battle , commencing fire at a distance of 50 to 60 yards . In a short , sharp , fight , both ships sustained heavy damage to masts and rigging , but " Wasp " prevailed over her adversary by boarding her . Unfortunately for the " Wasp " , a British 74 - gun ship - of - the - line , , appeared on the scene . " Frolic " was crippled and the " Wasp " s rigging and sails were badly damaged . At 4 : 00 PM Jones had no choice but to surrender " Wasp " ; he could neither run nor fight such an overwhelming opponent . British service . " Wasp " was briefly given the name " Loup Cervier " on her capture . She was commissioned in 1813 on the Halifax station under Captain Charles Gill . Captain William William Mends succeeded Gill , taking command on 26 February 1813 . In June " Loup Cervier " was off New London , where she helped blockade the squadron under Commodore Stephen Decatur . James Biddle , who had been first lieutenant of " Wasp " , had become captain of the USS " Hornet " . He issued a challenge to Mends that their two vessels meet in an engagement . Decatur forbade the engagement until he was sure that it would be an even match . The day after he gave his assent " Loup Cervier " left New London to patrol elsewhere . Thereafter " Loup Cervier " captured or recaptured four vessels . On 27 June she captured the schooner " Little Bill " , John Roach master , which had been sailing from St Bartholomews to North Carolina . She was carrying a cargo of sugar and molasses . " Little Bill " was restored . Then on 28 August " Loup Cervier " captured the ship " Hope " , of 468 tons ( bm ) , J . Emery master . " Hope " was sailing from Lisbon to New Port with a cargo of salt . She too was restored . On 29 October " Loup Cervier " recaptured the brig " John and Mary " , T . Collins , master . Lastly , " Loup Cervier " was one of four British warships that shared in the capture of the sloop " Emeline " , of 44 tons ( bm ) , O . Adams , master . " Emeline " was sailing from New York to Rhode Island with a cargo of 240 barrels of flour . At some point " Loup Cervier " was renamed " Peacock " , USS " Hornet " having captured and sunk the " Cruizer " class brig - sloop " Peacock " in February 1813 . Mends was appointed to command of on 23 March 1814 . " Peacock " may then have been briefly under the command of Captain G . Donnett . In April or shortly thereafter Commander Richard Coote of was promoted to post captain and transferred to " Peacock " . " Peacock " was one of the five British warships that on 21 April 1814 captured the Swedish brig " Minerva " . Then on 15 May , " Peacock " recaptured the Swedish ship " Providentia " , of four guns , 400 tons , and 17 men . She had been sailing from Amelia Island to Lisbon with a cargo of pine , cedar , etc . when an American privateer had captured her . That same day , " Peacock " recaptured the Russian ship " Hendrick " , of eight guns , 80 tons , and 13 men . She had been sailing from Amelia Island to Amsterdam with a cargo of pine and cotton when captured . Fate . " Peacock " was under Coote ' s command when she disappeared off the Virginia Capes . She foundered on 23 July 1814 .