British gun-brig 'Adder' (1805)

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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
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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)
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Service 1728-1749
Namur (74) 1746-1749
British 74 Gun
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(1746)
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Adder
Nominal Guns	12	BWAS-1793
Nationality	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	20.11.1804	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	3.1805	BWAS-1793
Launched	9.11.1805	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Topsham - Devon	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Confounder Class (1804)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	William RuleBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1778-1813	BWAS-1793
Constructor	Obidiah AylesBritish Ship Builder Service 1804-1805	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Gun-brig	BWAS-1793
Wrecked	9.12.1806	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck84' 0 ¾"Imperial Feet25.6223
Length of Keel69' 8 ⅞"Imperial Feet21.0534
Breadth22' 0 ¾"Imperial Feet6.7247
Depth in Hold11' 0"Imperial Feet3.3528
Burthen180 ⁵³⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

9.11.1805Broadside Weight = 120 Imperial Pound ( 54.42 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck12 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser1 British 12-Pounder
Stern Chaser1 British 12-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
180450Design Complement

1 Ship Commander

DatesRankNameSource
1806 - 9.12.1806LieutenantBWAS-1793

Service History

DateEventSource
31.1.1806Began fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
28.5.1806Completed fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
9.12.1806Grounded and wrecked near Abrevel, BrittanyBWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, 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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