American Fifth Rate frigate 'Raleigh' (1776)

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Britannia (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
(1762)
Devastation (6) 1841-1866
British 6 Gun
Unrated Steam Sloop
(1841)
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1790)
Pembroke (60) 1733-1749
British 60 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1733)
Mercury (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
(1745)
Seahorse (24) 1748-1784
British 24 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1748)
Charles PowlettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1728-1749
Namur (74) 1746-1749
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
Namur (74) 1746-1749
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3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
Shark (8) 1732-1755
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Raleigh
Nominal Guns	32	DANFS
Nationality	United States of America
Operator	Continental Navy
Ordered	13.12.1775	DANFS
Keel Laid Down	21.3.1776	DANFS
Launched	21.5.1776	DANFS
How acquired	Purpose built	DANFS
Shipyard	Portsmouth - New Hampshire	DANFS
Constructor	James HackettAmerican Ship Builder Service 1739	DANFS
Category	Fifth Rate	DANFS
Ship Type	Frigate	DANFS
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	DANFS
Captured	28.9.1778	DANFS
Becomes	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Raleigh' (1778) (32) 1778-1783 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentDANFS
Length of Gundeck131' 5"Imperial Feet39.9329
Breadth (inside Planking)34' 5"Imperial Feet10.395
Depth in Hold11' 0"Imperial Feet3.3528

Armament

1776Broadside Weight = 192 Imperial Pound ( 87.072 kg)DANFS
Gun Deck32 American 12-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1776180 DANFS

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
6.6.1776 - 4.1778CaptainDANFS24.6.1778 - 28.9.1778CaptainDANFS

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
4.8.1778 - 28.9.1778LieutenantCN

Service History

DateEventSource
12.8.1777Sailed form Portsmouth, NHDANFS
4.9.1777Action of 1777-09-04
4.1778Arrived in BostonDANFS
25.9.1778Sailed from Boston for Portsmouth, VARWAS
27.9.1778Capture of the Raleigh
28.9.1778Taken by off Boston
28.9.1778Taken by off Boston

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

CN Web Site

DANFSUnknown, Web Site

RWASEduard Sozaev, John Tredrea, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 8th of June 2026 17:20	F.F.	British First Rate ship of the line 'Britannia' (1762) (100) 1762-1825 British 100 Gun 1st Rate Ship of the Line 1812 Renamed "Princess Royal" 1812 Renamed "Saint George" 1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01	James Daschuk	British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866 British 6 Gun Unrated Steam Sloop
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56	AvM	British Merchant east indiaman 'Zephyr' (1790) (8) 1790-1798 British 8 Gun Merchant East Indiaman
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37	Jon Miller	British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Pembroke' (1733) (60) 1733-1749 British 60 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753 British 20 Gun 6th Rate Ship

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