HMS Daedalus (1826)

The ship was launched as a fifth-rate frigate of 46 guns of the Modified Leda class in 1826, but never commissioned in that role, being roofed over fore and aft and then laid up in Ordinary (reserve).On 6 August 1848, Captain McQuhae of Daedalus and several of his officers and crew (en route to St Helena) saw a sea serpent which was subsequently reported (and debated) in The Times.The vessel sighted what they named as an enormous serpent between the Cape of Good Hope and St Helena (reported by the captain as 24°44′S 9°22′E / 24.733°S 9.367°E / -24.733; 9.367;[2] off the coast of modern-day Namibia).[2] Captain McQuahae also reported that the creature was dark brown and had a yellowish white colour around its throat and was moving at 12 to 15 miles per hour (10 to 13 kn; 19 to 24 km/h).[2] Captain McQuahae also said that "The creature passed rapidly, but so close under our lee quarter, that had it been a man of my acquaintance I should have easily have recognised his features with the naked eye.
An original illustration of the reported sea serpent
HMS DaedalusSheerness DockyardLeda-class frigateFull-rigged shipcarronadesRoyal Navysea serpentfifth-ratefrigateLeda classcorvetteSt HelenaThe TimesCape of Good HopeNamibiasei whaleThe Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room CompanionInternet ArchiveCenter for InquirySkeptical InquirerSouth Australian Gazette and Mining JournalLeda-class frigatesPomoneShannonBritonTenedosLivelySurpriseDiamondTrincomaleeThetisArethusaFisgardMelampusNereusHamadryadThisbeUnicornPenelopeList of frigate classes of the Royal Navy