British Fifth Rate frigate 'Bucephalus' (1808)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Added
Sea-flower (4) 1714-1718
British 4 Gun
Merchant Sloop
Added
Charles BainsBritish
Ship Owner
Merchant Sailor
Service 1714-1718
Added
John ScottBritish
Merchant Sailor
Service 1798
Update
La Vengeance (20) 1797-1800
French 20 Gun
Privateer Unknown
Update
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Update
Woodcot (Unknown) 1786-1798
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Update
Raymond (Unknown) 1782-1798
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman (EIC Regular Ship)
Update
Cassandra (26) 1720-1723
Pirate 26 Gun
6th Rate Ship
Update
Cassandra (26) 1719-1720
British 26 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Added
Richard LazenbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Pirate
Service 1719-1723
See more...

Recent Comments

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
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
Shark (8) 1732-1755
British 8 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1732)
See more...

Bucephalus			3437
Nominal Guns	32
Nationality	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	19.6.1805
Keel Laid Down	8.1806
Launched	3.11.1808
How acquired	Built by Contract
Shipyard	William Rowe's Yard - Newcastle upon Tyne - River Tyne
Designed by	William RuleBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1778-1813
Constructor	William RoweBritish Ship Builder
Category	Fifth Rate
Ship Type	Frigate
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged
Broken Up	9.1834

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck150' 0"Imperial Feet45.72
Length of Keel126' 5 ⅝"Imperial Feet38.4207
Breadth38' 1"Imperial Feet11.5824
Depth in Hold12' 0"Imperial Feet3.6576
Burthen975 ⁶¹⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

3.1809Broadside Weight = 396 Imperial Pound ( 179.586 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck26 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck10 British 24-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck2 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 24-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 9-Pounder

5 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
3.1809 - 5.1812CaptainBWAS-17935.1812 - 1813CommanderBWAS-17931813CaptainBWAS-17933.1814 - 6.1815CommanderBWAS-17936.1815 - 8.1816CommanderBWAS-1793

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
16.8.1812 - 27.8.1813MasterADM 52

Service History

DateEventSource
28.7.1809Expedition to the Scheldt
15.11.1809Sailed for the East IndiesBWAS-1793
4.8.1811Chase off Java
1814Operations in New YorkBWAS-1793
1.1814Began fitting as a Troopship at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
5.1814Completed fitting as a Troopship at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
8.1816Laid up at PortsmouthBWAS-1793
6.1822fitting as a Receiving Ship at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1793
9.1834Broken up at PortsmouthBWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 52 Document

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

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

GDPR Statement