British sloop 'Desperate' (1805)

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...

Desperate
Nominal Guns	12	BWAS-1793
Nationality	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	6.1804	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	8.1804	BWAS-1793
Launched	2.1.1805	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Broadstairs - Kent	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Archer Class (1800)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	William RuleBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1778-1813	BWAS-1793
Constructor	Thomas WhiteBritish Ship Builder	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1793
Sailing Rig	Brig	BWAS-1793
Sold for Break Up	15.12.1814	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck80' 2"Imperial Feet24.4348
Length of Keel66' 0 ⅝"Imperial Feet20.1327
Breadth22' 7"Imperial Feet6.7945
Depth in Hold9' 5"Imperial Feet2.8702
Burthen179 ¹⁷⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

2.1.1805Broadside Weight = 108 Imperial Pound ( 48.978 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck10 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser2 British 18-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
12.180050Design Complement

6 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
1.1805 - 1806LieutenantBWAS-17931806LieutenantBWAS-17931806 - 1808LieutenantBWAS-17936.8.1806 - 6.1807Acting LieutenantNBD18491809 - 1810LieutenantBWAS-179310.1811 - 1814LieutenantBWAS-1793

1 Petty Officer

DatesRatingNameSource
6.11.1809 - 11.6.1810Midshipman Transfered ADM 196/5/3ADM 196

Service History

DateEventSource
8.1.1805Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1793
25.5.1805Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1793
23.8.1807Aciton of 1807-08-23
6.1809Began fitting as a Bomb Vessel at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
7.1809Completed fitting as a Bomb Vessel at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
25.2.1811Sailed for PortugalBWAS-1793
15.12.1814Sold at Deptfrod for £910BWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 196 Document

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

NBD1849O'Brien, Digital 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