British gunboat 'Gunboat No. 23' (1797)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Update
Jean-Louis PestelFrench
Ship Builder
Service 1793
Update
Le Cornélie (24) 1794-1797
French 24 Gun
6th Rate Frigate (Corvettes de Charge)
1795 Renamed "Calliope"
Update Unité Class (1793)
Update
Le Républicain (24) 1794-1799
French 24 Gun
6th Rate Corvette
Update
Pierre Dieudonné JaunezFrench
Ship Builder
Service 1806-1812
Added
Le Cygne (16) 1806-1808
French 16 Gun
Unrated Brig
Update
Jean-Baptiste LefebvreFrench
Ship Builder
Service 1804
Added
Endymion (16) 1805-1814
French 16 Gun
Unrated Brig
Added
Fanfaron (16) 1804-1809
French 16 Gun
Unrated Brig
Update
Le Curieux (16) 1800-1804
French 16 Gun
Unrated Brig
See more...

Recent Comments

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
British 16 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1793)
Romulus (36) 1785-1816
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1785)
Romulus (36) 1785-1816
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1785)
Acasta (40) 1797-1821
British 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1797)
Ambuscade (36) 1798-1813
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
1804 Renamed "Seine"
(1798)
Sir Edward Joseph Hamilton (1^st Baronet of Marlborough House)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1846
Centaur (74) 1797-1819
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1797)
Achille (74) 1798-1865
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1798)
See more...

Gunboat No. 23 ➡ 1797 Furious
Nominal Guns	12	BWAS-1793
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	7.2.1797	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	2.1797	BWAS-1793
Launched	31.3.1797	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Blackwall Yard - Blackwall	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Courser Class (1797)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	William RuleBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1778-1813	BWAS-1793
Constructor	John PerryBritish Ship Builder Service 1775-1810	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Gunboat	BWAS-1793
Sold	10.1802	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck76' 3"Imperial Feet23.1775
Length of Keel62' 5"Imperial Feet18.9611
Breadth22' 7"Imperial Feet6.7945
Depth in Hold8' 3"Imperial Feet2.5146
Draught Forward4' 0"Imperial Feet1.2192
Draught Aft5' 10 ½"Imperial Feet1.5367
Burthen169 ³⁰⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

31.3.1797Broadside Weight = 114 Imperial Pound ( 51.699 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck10 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser2 British 24-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
179750Design Complement

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
5.1797 - 1800LieutenantBWAS-17931800 - 1801LieutenantBWAS-1793

Service History

DateEventSource
1.4.1797Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
21.7.1797Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
7.8.1797Refitted as a 12 gun Unrated Gun-brig
7.8.1797Renamed FuriousBWAS-1793
12.1799coppering at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:08

Five gun vessels are to be stationed at Hof which is to be moored in Harwich harbour, for the protection of the Essex coast. During the last week, the Furious, Swinger, and Sparkler, the latter of which is to be moored in Harwich harbour, were appointed to this service. [Hampshire Chronicle, 6 January 1798]

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

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

GDPR Statement