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Diligence ➡ 1779 Comet

3912
Nominal Guns10BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered23.2.1756BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down18.3.1756BWAS-1714
Launched29.7.1756BWAS-1714
First Commissioned2.8.1756BWAS-1714
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1714
ShipyardRotherhithe - London - Surrey BWAS-1714
Ship ClassAlderney Class (1755)BWAS-1714
Designed by
William BatelyBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1741-1755
BWAS-1714
Constructor
William WellsBritish
Ship Builder
BWAS-1714
CategoryUnratedBWAS-1714
Ship TypeSloopBWAS-1714
Sailing RigSnowBWAS-1714
Sold5.12.1780BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck88' 5 ¾"Imperial Feet26.8415 
Length of Keel73' 0 ⅞"Imperial Feet22.2726 
Breadth24' 8"Imperial Feet7.366 
Depth in Hold10' 10"Imperial Feet3.048 
Burthen236 4694Tons BM 

Armament


29.7.1756Broadside Weight = 23 Imperial Pound ( 10.4308 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck10 British 4-Pounder
Gun Deck12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1755100Design Complement

13 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
23.3.1757 - 12.5.1758Commander
George FalconerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1739-1780
ADM 6/18/373
BWAS-1714
13.5.1758 - 1.3.1760Commander
Joseph EastwoodBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1743-1760
ADM 6/18/511
BWAS-1714
1.3.1760 - 22.10.1762Commander
William OsborneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1737-1763
ADM 6/19/141
BWAS-1714
25.5.1763 - 24.11.1763Commander
Hugh DalrympleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1779
ADM 6/19/502
BWAS-1714
24.11.1763 - 20.6.1765Commander
The Hon. Constantine John PhippsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1759-1792
ADM 6/20/32
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 19.6.1764
BWAS-1714
13.8.1766 - 16.1.1768Commander
Charles RocheBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1755-1768
ADM 6/20/132
BWAS-1714
16.1.1768 - 20.5.1769Commander
James WastellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1750-1772
ADM 6/20/210
Issued by
William ParryBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1728-1778

Confirmed 3.8.1768
BWAS-1714
29.7.1772 - 5.5.1778Commander
Thomas DavyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1760-1814
ADM 6/20/452
BWAS-1714
13.5.1778 - 14.5.1778Commander
Abraham CrespinBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1729-1781
ADM 6/21/404
ADM 6/21
14.5.1778 - 15.5.1778Commander
John ReynoldsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1758-1784
ADM 6/21/406
ADM 6/21
15.5.1778 - 16.5.1778Commander
David CollinsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1782
ADM 6/21/406
ADM 6/21
16.5.1778 - 17.5.1778Commander
Richard TrottenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1746-1780
ADM 6/21/407
ADM 6/21
30.8.1779 - 27.6.1780Commander
Walter LongBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1750-1782
ADM 6/11/21
BWAS-1714

2 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
25.5.1763 - 29.4.1766Lieutenant
Robert CalderBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1756-1813
ADM 6/19/502
ADM 6/19
3.9.1779 - 21.4.1780Lieutenant
John WhitlyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1795
Transfered ADM 6/22/24
ADM 6/22

Service History


DateEventSource
18.3.1756Began building at Deptford - London BWAS-1714
29.7.1756Completed building at Deptford - London at a cost of £1903.2.0dBWAS-1714
29.7.1756Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
25.9.1756Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £1004.4.4dBWAS-1714
1.2.1757Took the Privateer
Le Cygne (6) 1757-1757
French 6 Gun
Privateer Unknown

1758Operations against St Malo, St Cas and CherbourgBWAS-1714
5.6.1758Raid on Saint-Malo
29.4.1759Took the Brig
La Dépèche (10) 1758-1759
French 10 Gun
Privateer Brig
off Morlaix

30.12.1760Took the Snow
Le Favori (6) 1760-1760
French 6 Gun
Privateer Snow
off Cape Barfleur
BG
31.2.1761Took the Privateer
Le Benjamin (6) 1761-1761
French 6 Gun
Privateer Unknown

20.3.1762Took the Privateer
L'Aigle (2) 1762-1762
French 2 Gun
Privateer Unknown
off the Lizard
BG
7.4.1762Took the Privateer
Le Malouin (6) 1762-1762
French 6 Gun
Privateer Unknown

22.10.1762

Paid off

BWAS-1714
21.2.1763SurveyedBWAS-1714
4.1763Began small repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
5.1763RecommissionedBWAS-1714
8.1763Completed small repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £2141.17.3dBWAS-1714
2.9.1763Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
11.1763In North AmericaBWAS-1714
29.4.1766

Paid off

ADM 33
6.1766Began middling repair at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
8.1766RecommissionedBWAS-1714
10.1766Completed middling repair at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £2275.0.0dBWAS-1714
5.11.1766Sailed for JamaicaBWAS-1714
20.5.1769

Paid off

ADM 33
1.1771Began great repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
10.1771Completed great repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £3570.18.3dBWAS-1714
7.1772RecommissionedBWAS-1714
7.1772fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
10.10.1772Sailed for JamaicaBWAS-1714
23.5.1778

Paid off

ADM 33
27.8.1779Refitted as a 8 gun Unrated Fireship
27.8.1779Renamed CometBWAS-1714
30.8.1779RecommissionedBWAS-1714
9.1779Began fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
11.1779Completed fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness at a cost of £1736.7.9dBWAS-1714
27.6.1780

Paid off

ADM 51
5.12.1780Sold at Sheerness for £300BWAS-1714

 
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