British Sixth Rate ship 'Hydra' (1778)

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Hydra
Nominal Guns	24	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	21.4.1778	BWAS-1714
Named	19.5.1778	BWAS-1714
Acquired	8.8.1778	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purchased on the Stocks	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Adams & BarnardBritish Ship Builder	BWAS-1714
Category	Sixth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Sold	1.5.1783	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck109' 4 ½"Imperial Feet33.2359
Length of Keel90' 7 ¾"Imperial Feet27.4511
Breadth30' 8 ¼"Imperial Feet9.1504
Depth in Hold10' 6 ½"Imperial Feet3.0607
Burthen454 ⁵⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

8.1778Broadside Weight = 108 Imperial Pound ( 48.978 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck24 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
8.8.1778160 BWAS-1714

4 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
24.7.1778 - 1.10.1779Captain Transfered ADM 6/21/437BWAS-17141.10.1779 - 1781Captain ADM 6/22/31BWAS-17141782 - 1.12.1782Captain TransferedBWAS-17141.12.1782 - 1783Captain ADM 6/23/130
Issued by , Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Confirmed 29.8.1783BWAS-1714

Service History

DateEventSource
1778In the Western SquadronBWAS-1714
12.8.1778Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
29.9.1778Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £4125.17.2dBWAS-1714
16.11.1779Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
1.1781Began coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
4.1781Completed coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £3359.9.4dBWAS-1714
14.4.1781Sailed for JamaicaBWAS-1714
4.1783Paid offBWAS-1714
1.5.1783Sold for £2,400BWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Tuesday 28th of July 2026 02:37	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate frigate 'Aurora' (1777) (28) 1777-1814 British 28 Gun 6th Rate Frigate
Tuesday 28th of July 2026 02:35	Jon Miller	British hired cutter 'Dolphin' (1793) (12) 1793-1801 British 12 Gun Hired Cutter
Tuesday 28th of July 2026 02:34	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Diadem' (1782) (64) 1782-1832 British 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Tuesday 28th of July 2026 02:30	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Alexandria' (1801) (38) 1801-1804 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Tuesday 28th of July 2026 02:29	Jon Miller	Alexander WilsonBritish Naval Sailor Service 1794-1814

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