British fireship 'Conflagration' (1783)

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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
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
Shark (8) 1732-1755
British 8 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1732)
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Conflagration
Nominal Guns	8	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	20.2.1782	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	4.1782	BWAS-1714
Launched	28.10.1783	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	1.1793	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Shoreham - Sussex	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Tisiphone Class (1779)	BWAS-1714
Constructor	John PelhamBritish Ship Builder	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Fireship	BWAS-1714
Burnt to avoid capture	18.12.1793	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck108' 6"Imperial Feet32.9375
Length of Keel90' 9 ¾"Imperial Feet27.4511
Breadth29' 8 ⅜"Imperial Feet8.8487
Depth in Hold9' 0"Imperial Feet2.7432
Burthen425 ⁸³⁄₉₄Tons BM
Burthen425 ²⁴⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

28.10.1783Broadside Weight = 48 Imperial Pound ( 21.768 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck8 British 12-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
177955Design Complement

5 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
21.9.1790 - 14.10.1790Commander Transfered ADM 6/24/69ADM 6/2428.10.1790 - 21.11.1790Commander ADM 6/24/82ADM 6/2422.11.1790 - 5.6.1791Commander Transfered ADM 6/24/89ADM 6/249.2.1793 - 15.5.1793Commander ADM 6/24/207ADM 6/2416.5.1793 - 18.12.1793Commander ADM 6/24/239BWAS-1714

3 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
28.10.1790 - 10.1.1791Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/82ADM 6/2429.1.1793 - 28.12.1793First Lieutenant ADM 6/24/198ADM 6/248.2.1793 - 28.12.1793Second Lieutenant ADM 6/24/206ADM 6/24

Service History

DateEventSource
7.11.1783fitting for ordinary at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £1357.9.6dBWAS-1714
1.1793Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
5.1793Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £1108.0.0dBWAS-1714
22.5.1793Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
18.12.1793Burnt to avoid capture at Toulon while undergoing reparisBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 6/24 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif 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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