Surprise

Surprise is a private man-of-war, owned by Stephen Maturin, and captained by Jack Aubrey and then Tom Pullings. She was French-built and has previously been known as L'Unité, Retaliation, and Retribution. Her figure-head is a gilded woman with an ample bosom and a look of surprise on her face. She displaces about six hundred tons, has a crew of about two hundred men, and carries a main armament of twelve-pounder long guns. Her crew is composed of unusually able seamen including Awkward Davies and other named individuals.

HMS Diane

Diane is a French man-of-war which was captured by Aubrey in an audacious cutting-out expedition described in a previous novel of the series. Purchased into the Royal Navy, Diane is given to Aubrey to convey Fox to Pulo Prabang. Diane proves a good ship, capable of fine sailing.

Batavia

Batavia is a British colony and strong outpost, overseen...