HCS Coote (1827)

Capture of Aden on a 1939 stamp marking the centenary
History
East India Company
Operator	East India Company
Launched	1827
Fate	Wrecked in 1845, later sank during attempted salvage
General characteristics
Type	Sloop of war
Tons burthen	420 (bm)
Decks	One
Armament	18 cannon

HCS Coote was a sloop-of-war that served the British East India Company (EIC) during the 19th century. The Bombay Dockyard launched Coote in 1827. Though the EIC built Coote, her size and armament were equivalent to the retired Cruizer-class brig-sloops.

Coote participated in the 1839 Aden Expedition along with HCS Mahi and the frigate HMS Volage and the brig HMS Cruizer of the British Royal Navy.

Fate

Coote was lost on 1 December 1845. She had left Bombay on 22 November, and wrecked at Calicut, on the Malabar Coast, on what became known as Coote Reef (11.23333°N 75.76667°E / 11.23333; 75.76667). Her officers and crew abandoned her as unsalvageable on 3 December. Her captain, Lieutenant J.S. Grieve, his officers, and crew all survived. All her guns, and a great deal of her stores and ammunition were saved. The EIC was able, eventually, to get her off the rocks. The company decided to sell the hull at Calicut rather than attempt to tow it to Bombay. A Calicut resident bought the hull for 10,000 rupees, but as she was being towed on shore where her leaks might be repaired, she sank into mud and appeared a total loss.