British Sixth Rate frigate 'Dolphin' (1732)

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Dolphin ➡ 1755 Firebrand ➡ 1757 Penquin	3938
Nominal Guns	20	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	25.9.1730	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	12.1730	BWAS-1714
Launched	6.1.1732	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	10.1.1731/32	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	1719 Establishment 20-Gunner (1719)	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Richard StaceyBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1695-1742	BWAS-1714
Category	Sixth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Frigate	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Captured	28.3.1760	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck106' 0"Imperial Feet32.3088
Length of Keel87' 0"Imperial Feet26.5176
Breadth30' 5"Imperial Feet9.271
Depth in Hold9' 2"Imperial Feet2.794
Burthen428 ¹³⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

6.1.1731/32Broadside Weight = 60 Imperial Pound ( 27.21 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck20 British 6-Pounder

4.1747Broadside Weight = 20 Imperial Pound ( 9.0702 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck6 British 6-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck8 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

11.1757Broadside Weight = 60 Imperial Pound ( 27.21 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck20 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1719140Design Complement
174565as a storeshipBWAS-1714
4.174755as a fireshipBWAS-1714

17 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
10.1.1731/32 - 26.8.1735Captain ADM 6/15/96BWAS-17149.2.1735/36 - 15.2.1739/40Captain Transfered ADM 6/15/7BWAS-171415.2.1739/40 - 9.5.1742Captain ADM 6/15/248BWAS-171410.5.1742 - 23.12.1743Captain TransferedBWAS-171424.12.1743 - 16.2.1743/44Captain Transfered ADM 6/16/253ADM 6/1617.2.1743/44 - 17.4.1744Captain Transfered ADM 6/16/273BWAS-171418.4.1744 - 24.2.1744/45Captain Transfered ADM 6/16/295BWAS-171425.2.1744/45 - 26.2.1744/45Captain Transfered ADM 6/17/499
Issued by , East Indies - Asia
Confirmed 10.10.1749ADM 6/1726.2.1744/45 - 20.7.1745Commander ADM 6/17/151BWAS-171421.7.1745 - 1.2.1745/46Commander ADM 6/17/244
Issued by , East Indies - Asia
Confirmed 15.7.1747ADM 6/191.2.1745/46 - 8.12.1746Commander ADM 6/17/157
Confirmed 24.9.1746ADM 6/172.3.1746/47 - 22.6.1747Commander Transfered ADM 6/17/205ADM 6/1722.6.1747 - 26.5.1748Commander ADM 6/17/240BWAS-171414.10.1755 - 31.12.1755Commander Transfered ADM 6/18/201ADM 6/1831.12.1755 - 17.2.1757Commander ADM 6/18/223BWAS-171416.11.1757 - 30.7.1759Captain Transfered ADM 6/18/453BWAS-171430.7.1759 - 28.3.1760Captain ADM 6/19/82BWAS-1714

7 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
10.1.1731/32 - 26.8.1735Lieutenant ADM 6/15/96ADM 6/1424.12.1743 - 13.3.1743/44Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/16/254ADM 6/1615.3.1743/44 - 17.4.1744Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/16/280ADM 6/167.3.1746/47 - 26.5.1748Lieutenant ADM 6/17/205ADM 6/179.2.1757 - 3.5.1757Acting Lieutenant Transfered ADM 107/5/30ADM 107/523.2.1757 - 27.6.1757Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/18/351ADM 6/1816.4.1759 - 28.3.1760Lieutenant ADM 6/19/61ADM 6/19

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1.4.1740 - 20.8.1741Carpenter Transfered ADM 6/15/270ref:1788

7 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
17.1.1731/32 - 29.4.1734Midshipman Ordinary ADM 107/3/328ADM 107/330.4.1734 - 26.8.1735Midshipman ADM 107/3/328ADM 107/321.7.1734 - 26.8.1735Midshipman ADM 107/3/308ADM 107/34.9.1737 - 11.9.1738Midshipman Ordinary Transfered ADM 107/3/369ADM 107/34.5.1740 - 24.5.1744Midshipman Transfered ADM 107/4/96ADM 107/44.3.1742/43 - 5.11.1744Midshipman Transfered ADM 107/4/67ADM 107/428.12.1755 - 8.2.1757Midshipman ADM 107/5/30ADM 107/5

9 Crewmen

DatesRatingNameSource
11.1.1731/32 - 30.12.1732Ordinary Seaman ADM 107/3/340ADM 107/331.1.1731/32 - 20.7.1734Able Seaman ADM 107/3/308ADM 107/331.12.1732 - 26.8.1735Able Seaman ADM 107/3/340ADM 107/328.8.1734 - 26.8.1735Able Seaman ADM 107/3/482ADM 107/316.4.1736 - 3.9.1737Able Seaman ADM 107/3/369ADM 107/325.7.1738 - 7.3.1739/40Able Seaman ADM 107/3/363ADM 107/35.4.1741 - 19.9.1741Able Seaman Transfered ADM 107/4/30ADM 107/426.5.1750 - 27.12.1750Captain's Servant ADM 107/4/364ADM 107/428.12.1750 - 24.3.1750/51Able Seaman Transfered ADM 107/4/364ADM 107/4

Service History

DateEventSource
1.1732Commissioned for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
6.1.1731/32building at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £5812.13.11dBWAS-1714
26.8.1735

Paid off

BWAS-1714
1.9.1740Took the Privateer in the Western ApproachesBWAS-1714
7.9.1740Took the Privateer in the Western ApproachesBWAS-1714
1741To the Irish coastBWAS-1714
2.1742To the Western approachesBWAS-1714
2.6.1742Took the Privateer in the Western ApproachesBWAS-1714
1744In the ChannelBWAS-1714
4.1744Sailed to the West InidiesBWAS-1714
1745Refitted as a 8 gun Unrated Storeship
1.1745Took the Privateer at AchinBWAS-1714
10.1746Began fitting at Deptford - London BWAS-1714
4.1747Refitted as a 6 gun Unrated Fireship
4.1747Completed fitting at Deptford - London at a cost of £4769.9.0dBWAS-1714
20.6.1747Action of June 20 1747
14.10.17472nd Battle of Cape Finisterre
26.5.1748Paid offADM 33
29.12.1748Surveyed and was to be sold, but was laid up at Portsmouth insteadBWAS-1714
7.1755Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
29.7.1755Renamed FirebrandBWAS-1714
8.1755Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
12.1755Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
1.1756Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £2526.5.11dBWAS-1714
4.1757Began small repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
12.4.1757SurveyedBWAS-1714
20.5.1757

Paid off

ADM 33
10.1757Completed small repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £2868.3.10dBWAS-1714
11.1757RecommissionedBWAS-1714
16.11.1757Refitted as a 20 gun Sixth Rate Frigate
16.11.1757Renamed PenquinBWAS-1714
3.2.1758Took the Snow BWAS-1714
12.3.1758Sailed with a convoy for South CaorlinaBWAS-1714
20.6.1759Took the Privateer BWAS-1714
27.3.1760Taken by off Vianna, Portugal
28.3.1760Taken by off Vianna, Portugal

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 107/3 Archive

ADM 107/4 Archive

ADM 107/5 Archive

ADM 33 Archive

ADM 6/14 Archive

ADM 6/16 Archive

ADM 6/17 Archive

ADM 6/18 Archive

ADM 6/19 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

ref:1788Christopher Donnithorne, Book

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