British fireship 'Volcano' (1778)

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Volcano
Nominal Guns	8	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Purchased	2.8.1778	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Unknown	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Fireship	BWAS-1714
Sold	7.5.1781	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck89' 0"Imperial Feet27.1272
Length of Keel70' 10"Imperial Feet21.336
Breadth25' 7"Imperial Feet7.6556
Depth in Hold15' 8"Imperial Feet4.6126
Burthen247Tons BM

Armament

31.7.1778Broadside Weight = 18 Imperial Pound ( 8.1632 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck8 British 4-Pounder
Gun Deck8 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
7.177845 BWAS-1714

4 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
31.7.1778 - 9.10.1778Commander ADM 6/21/509
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 10.2.1779BWAS-17149.10.1778 - 26.12.1778Commander ADM 6/22/11
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 2.8.1779ADM 6/2126.12.1778 - 13.10.1780Commander ADM 6/22/93
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 25.2.1780BWAS-171413.10.1780 - 1780Commander ADM 6/22/298
Issued by , Newfoundland - Canada
Confirmed 12.6.1781ADM 6/22

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
18.10.1780 - 25.2.1781MasterADM 29-1

Service History

DateEventSource
11.8.1778Howe's encounter with d'Estaing
22.12.1778RegisteredBWAS-1714
1.12.1780Arrived at PortsmouthBWAS-1714
4.4.1783Sold at Portsmouth to John WIlkinson for £800BWAS-1714

Notes on Ship

OriginBWAS-1714
Mercantile Nancy, purchased in North America by Lord Howe

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 29-1 Document

ADM 6/21 Archive

ADM 6/22 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

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Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Friday 24th of July 2026 08:52	Jon Miller	Philip AffleckBritish Naval Sailor Service 1743-1799
Friday 24th of July 2026 08:41	Jon Miller	George SarradineBritish Naval Sailor Service 1794-1802
Friday 24th of July 2026 08:28	Jon Miller	British Other Vessels discovery vessel 'Discovery' (1789) (10) 1789-1834 British 10 Gun Other Discovery Vessel
Friday 24th of July 2026 08:15	Jon Miller	Mark RobinsonBritish Naval Sailor Service 1740-1787
Friday 24th of July 2026 06:56	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Ethalion' (1797) (38) 1797-1799 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

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