British Sixth Rate frigate 'Mermaid' (1761)

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Mermaid

5384
Nominal Guns28BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered24.4.1760BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down27.5.1760BWAS-1714
Launched6.5.1761BWAS-1714
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1714
ShipyardHessel Cliff - The Humber ref:1326
Ship ClassMermaid Class (1760)BWAS-1714
Designed by
Sir Thomas SladeBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1744-1783
BWAS-1714
Constructor
Hugh BlaydesBritish
Ship Builder
Service 1686
BWAS-1714
CategorySixth RateBWAS-1714
Ship TypeFrigateBWAS-1714
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1714
Wrecked8.7.1778BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck124' 0"Imperial Feet37.7952 
Length of Keel102' 8 ⅛"Imperial Feet31.0928 
Breadth33' 6 ⅜"Imperial Feet10.0679 
Depth in Hold11' 0"Imperial Feet3.3528 
Burthen613 85⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


6.5.1761Broadside Weight = 117 Imperial Pound ( 53.0598 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck24 British 9-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel
Quarterdeck4 British 3-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1760200Design Complement

4 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
19.5.1761 - 7.4.1763Captain
George WatsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1745-1773
ADM 6/19/316BWAS-17147.4.1763 - 31.12.1767Captain
Joseph DeaneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1746-1779
ADM 6/19/479BWAS-171431.3.1768 - 16.1.1772Captain
James SmithBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1741-1772
ADM 6/20/199BWAS-17148.4.1776 - 8.7.1778Captain
James HawkerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1784
ADM 6/21/178BWAS-1714

3 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
7.4.1763 - 7.4.1767First Lieutenant
Henry HarveyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1751-1805
Transfered ADM 6/19/479ODNB4.4.1768 - 20.1.1771First Lieutenant
Connolly HodgsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1749-1777
ADM 6/20/199ADM 6/2017.4.1776 - 8.7.1778First Lieutenant
William Henry King O'HaraBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1768-1789
ADM 6/21/180ADM 6/21

Service History


DateEventSource
6.5.1761building at Kingston upon Hull - Yorkshire - The Humber at a cost of £5821.5.6dBWAS-1714
6.5.1761Began fitting at Kingston upon Hull - Yorkshire - The Humber BWAS-1714
9.1761Completed fitting at Kingston upon Hull - Yorkshire - The Humber BWAS-1714
9.3.1762Took the Privateer
Le Duc de Fronsac (Unknown) 1762-1762
French Unknown Gun
Privateer Unknown

3.7.1762Took the Privateer
Le Serviable (Unknown) 1762-1762
French Unknown Gun
Privateer Unknown

4.1763Paid off and then recommissionedBWAS-1714
3.7.1763Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
31.12.1767

Paid off

BWAS-1714
3.1768RecommissionedBWAS-1714
21.10.1770Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
16.1.1772

Paid off

ADM 33
2.1776Began small repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
4.1776RecommissionedBWAS-1714
8.1776Completed small repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £8587.5.3dBWAS-1714
18.11.1777Took the Sloop
Active (12) 1777-1777
American 12 Gun
Privateer Sloop

8.7.1778Driven ashore to avoid capture in Delaware BayBWAS-1714
16.10.1778Paid offADM 34
1779Took the Privateer
Le Jeune Leon (12) 1779-1779
French 12 Gun
Privateer Unknown

1779Took the Privateer
Le Renard (16) 1779-1779
French 16 Gun
Privateer Unknown


 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Roger Novak on Thursday 16th of May 2013 01:35

Mermaid was driven ashore by d'Estaing's frigates and surrendered to the American rebels by Capt. Hawker on the beach at Sinepuxent Inlet, MD some 40 miles south of the Delaware Bay.

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