British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Colchester' (1721)

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Oiseau (36) 1793-1816
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1793)
Argonaut (64) 1782-1831
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1782)
Hussar (14) 1798-1800
British 14 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1798)
Oiseau (36) 1793-1816
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1793)
Thisbe (28) 1783-1815
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1783)
Resolution (74) 1770-1813
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1770)
Argonaut (64) 1782-1831
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1782)
Danae (20) 1798-1800
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Post Ship
(1798)
Melpomene (38) 1794-1815
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1794)
Mermaid (32) 1784-1815
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Colchester
Nominal Guns	50	BWAS-1603
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	5.12.1718	BWAS-1603
Keel Laid Down	1.4.1719	BWAS-1603
Acquired	26.10.1721	BWAS-1603
First Commissioned	15.3.1721/22	BWAS-1603
Shipyard	Chatham Dockyard - Chatham	BWAS-1603
Ship Class	1719 Establishment 50-Gunner (1719)	BWAS-1603
Constructor	Benjamin RosewellBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1695-1741	BWAS-1603
Category	Fourth Rate	BWAS-1603
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	BWAS-1603
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1603
Broken Up	9.1742	BWAS-1603

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck134' 0"Imperial Feet40.8432
Length of Keel109' 8"Imperial Feet33.2458
Breadth36' 0"Imperial Feet10.9728
Depth in Hold14' 4"Imperial Feet4.2926
Burthen756 ⁰⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

26.10.1721Broadside Weight = 315 Imperial Pound ( 142.8525 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck22 British 18-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 British 9-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1719280Design Complement

3 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
15.3.1721/22 - 1.12.1727Captain ADM 6/13/31B05124.7.1739 - 13.10.1740Captain† Discharged Dead ADM 6/15/206BWAS-160324.11.1741 - 19.1.1741/42Captain ADM 6/16/360BWAS-1603

13 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
15.3.1721/22 - 18.11.1727First Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/13/31ADM 6/1315.3.1721/22 - 1.12.1727Second Lieutenant ADM 6/15/31ADM 6/1315.3.1721/22 - 25.9.1727Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/13/31ADM 6/1325.9.1727 - 1.12.1727Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/15/174
Confirmed 11.11.1727ADM 6/1324.7.1739 - 20.11.1740First Lieutenant ADM 6/15/206ADM 6/1524.7.1739 - 13.8.1739Second Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/15/206ADM 6/1524.7.1739 - 20.1.1740/41Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/15/204ADM 6/1514.8.1739 - 26.3.1741Second Lieutenant ADM 6/15/211ADM 6/1521.1.1740/41 - 19.4.1741Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/15/371ADM 6/1527.3.1741 - 19.4.1741Second Lieutenant ADM 6/15/404ADM 6/1520.4.1741 - 2.11.1741Second Lieutenant ADM 6/15/412ADM 6/1521.4.1741 - 11.5.1741Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms Transfered ADM 6/15/412ADM 6/154.11.1741 - 12.1.1741/42Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/16/474ADM 6/15

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
4.9.1721 - 1721Carpenter ADM 6/13/16ref:1788

6 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
23.2.1721/22 - 17.3.1726/27Midshipman Ordinary ADM 107/3/187ADM 107/312.3.1721/22 - 20.5.1723Midshipman Ordinary Transfered ADM 107/3/141ADM 107/311.5.1722 - 11.5.1725Volunteer-per-order ADM 107/3/430ADM 107/312.5.1725 - 17.8.1727Midshipman Ordinary ADM 107/3/430ADM 107/318.3.1726/27 - 7.9.1727Midshipman Transfered ADM 107/3/187ADM 107/318.8.1727 - 1.12.1727Midshipman Transfered ADM 107/3/430ADM 107/3

Service History

DateEventSource
1722Commissioned for home watersBWAS-1603
1724Sailed to the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
1725In the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
1726In the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
1.12.1727

Home and paid off

ADM 33
1740Sailed to South CarolinaBWAS-1603
1741Sailed to meet East India shipsBWAS-1603
19.1.1741/42

Paid off

ADM 33
9.1742Break up completed at ChathamBWAS-1603

Fleets
Dates	Fleet	Fleet Commander	Source
24.12.1726-9.4.1728	British Squadron for the relief of Gibraltar	Sir Charles WagerBritish Naval Sailor Service 1692-1734

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Date posted	By	Page
Sunday 26th of July 2026 05:58	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Oiseau' (1793) (36) 1793-1816 British 36 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
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