British Fifth Rate fireship 'Aetna' (1691)

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Henry BlaxtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1767-1794
Ambuscade (36) 1798-1813
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
1804 Renamed "Seine"
(1798)
Espiegle (16) 1793-1802
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Unrated Sloop
(1793)
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5th Rate Frigate
(1785)
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(1785)
Acasta (40) 1797-1821
British 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1797)
Ambuscade (36) 1798-1813
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5th Rate Frigate
1804 Renamed "Seine"
(1798)
Sir Edward Joseph Hamilton (1^st Baronet of Marlborough House)British
Naval Sailor
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Aetna
Etna
Nominal Guns	28	BWAS-1603
Nationality	Kingdom of England
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	25.9.1690	BWAS-1603
Acquired	19.3.1690/91	B028
Shipyard	Hessel Cliff - The Humber	B028
Ship Class	1690 Program Fireships (1690)	B028
Constructor	John FrameBritish Ship Owner Ship Builder Service 1699-1715	BWAS-1603
Category	Fifth Rate	BWAS-1603
Ship Type	Fireship	B028
Captured	18.4.1697	B028
Becomes	French Privateer fireship 'L'Etna' (1697) (6) 1697-1704 French 6 Gun Privateer Fireship

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Gundeck90' 11 ¼"Imperial Feet27.4384
Length of Keel81' 3"Imperial Feet24.765
Breadth25' 7 ½"Imperial Feet7.6327
Depth in Hold9' 6"Imperial Feet2.8956
Burthen283 ⁷⁴⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

19.3.1690/91Broadside Weight = 86 Imperial Pound ( 39.001 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck4 British 9-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck20 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 4-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
2.12.1690115Design Complement

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
3.5.1691 - 1694CaptainBWAS-16031694 - 18.4.1697Captain† ADM 6/4/68BWAS-1603

5 Warrant Officers

DatesRankNameSource
17.11.1696 - 18.4.1697Boatswain ADM 6/4/46ADM 6/41697 - 18.1.1696/97Gunner ADM 6/4/76ADM 6/41697 - 18.4.1697Cook ADM 6/4/107ADM 6/419.1.1696/97 - 18.4.1697Gunner ADM 6/4/63ADM 6/42.2.1696/97 - 18.4.1697Carpenter ADM 6/4/68ADM 6/4

Service History

DateEventSource
19.5.1692Battle of Barfleur
18.4.1697Taken by a French 40-gun privateer off Berry HeadBWAS-1603

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 6/4 Archive

B028J. J. Colledge, Book

BWAS-1603Rif Winfield, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 27th of July 2026 12:36	Jon Miller	Henry BlaxtonBritish Naval Sailor Service 1767-1794
Monday 27th of July 2026 12:35	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Ambuscade' (1798) (36) 1798-1813 British 36 Gun 5th Rate Frigate 1804 Renamed "Seine"
Monday 27th of July 2026 12:33	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Espiegle' (1793) (16) 1793-1802 British 16 Gun Unrated Sloop
Monday 27th of July 2026 12:29	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Romulus' (1785) (36) 1785-1816 British 36 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 27th of July 2026 12:28	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Romulus' (1785) (36) 1785-1816 British 36 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

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