HMS Ferret (1794) was a Royal Navy ship that served during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was originally a French privateer named Mercure, captured by the British in 1794. The ship was armed with 16 guns and had a crew of 90 men. After being taken into British service, it was renamed HMS Ferret. The ship was actively involved in various naval operations, including capturing enemy vessels and escorting convoys. In 1796, HMS Ferret participated in the capture of the French privateer Vengeur off the coast of Ireland. The ship's service history also includes convoy duties in the North Sea and the English Channel. In 1797, HMS Ferret was involved in the unsuccessful expedition to Quiberon Bay. The ship's fate is unclear, as there are no records of its disposal or ultimate fate after 1797. HMS Ferret's service highlights the important role played by small warships like brigs in the naval operations of the late 18th century.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.