British Fifth Rate frigate 'Orpheus' (1773)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Recent Comments



Orpheus

5640
Nominal Guns32BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered25.12.1770BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down5.1771BWAS-1714
Launched7.5.1773BWAS-1714
First Commissioned23.4.1773BWAS-1714
How acquiredBuilt by ContractBWAS-1714
ShipyardKing's Yard - Harwich BWAS-1714
Ship ClassLowestoffe Class - 32 guns (1760)BWAS-1714
Designed by
Sir Thomas SladeBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1744-1783
BWAS-1714
Constructor
John BarnardBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Service 1740-1782
BWAS-1714
CategoryFifth RateBWAS-1714
Ship TypeFrigateBWAS-1714
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1714
Burnt to avoid capture15.8.1778BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck130' 0"Imperial Feet39.624 
Length of Keel108' 2 ½"Imperial Feet32.9311 
Breadth35' 1"Imperial Feet10.6731 
Depth in Hold12' 6"Imperial Feet3.7338 
Burthen708 40⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


7.5.1773Broadside Weight = 177 Imperial Pound ( 80.2698 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck26 British 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
24.4.1760220Design Complement

2 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
23.4.1773 - 9.8.1774Captain
John MacbrideBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1751-1799
ADM 6/20/490BWAS-171425.7.1775 - 5.8.1778Captain
Charles HudsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1746-1793
Transfered ADM 6/21/107BWAS-1714

2 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
23.4.1773 - 9.8.1774Second Lieutenant
William SwineyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1771-1819
ADM 6/20/490ADM 6/2026.7.1775 - 16.10.1779First Lieutenant
William RedmonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1752-1783
ADM 6/21/107ADM 6/21

1 Petty Officer


DatesRatingNameSource
2.9.1775 - 9.6.1776Master's Mate
Bartholomew JamesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1764-1825
TransferedNRS006

Service History


DateEventSource
7.5.1773building at Harwich - Essex at a cost of £12654.16.11dBWAS-1714
11.6.1773fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £835.7.7dBWAS-1714
8.1774Paid offBWAS-1714
7.1775RecommissionedBWAS-1714
8.1775Began fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
30.9.1775Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
10.1775Completed fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £3729.11.8dBWAS-1714
7.10.1775Moved from Hamoaze into the SoundNRS006
30.10.1775Sailed for America in company with
Chatham (50) 1758-1814
British 50 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
1810 Renamed "Tilbury"
BWAS-1714
31.1.1776Arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia after a passage of 97 daysNRS006
5.8.1778Abandoned and burnt at Rhode IslandBWAS-1714

 
Previous comments on this pageno comments to display
Make a comment about this page






Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Saturday 25th of July 2026 07:16Jon Miller
British Merchant east indiaman 'Princess Mary' (1796) (Unknown) 1796-1805
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Saturday 25th of July 2026 07:15Jon Miller
British Merchant 'Indian Chief' (1800) (Unknown) 1800-1801
British Unknown Gun
Merchant Unknown
Saturday 25th of July 2026 07:14Jon Miller
British Second Rate ship of the line 'London' (1766) (90) 1766-1811
British 90 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
Saturday 25th of July 2026 07:11Jon Miller
Edward Jekyll CanesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1793
Saturday 25th of July 2026 07:10Jon Miller
Sir Adam DrummondBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-9990
Copyright © Cy Harrison 2010-2026, all rights reserved
GDPR Statement