British floating battery 'Firm' (1794)

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Recent Comments

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
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4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1733)
Mercury (20) 1745-1753
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6th Rate Ship
(1745)
Seahorse (24) 1748-1784
British 24 Gun
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(1746)
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Firm
Nominal Guns	16	BWAS-1793
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	14.11.1793	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	3.2.1794	BWAS-1793
Launched	19.5.1794	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Firm Class (1793)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	Sir John HenslowBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1761-1801	BWAS-1793
Constructor	Martin WareBritish Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1755-1787	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Floating Battery	BWAS-1793
Sold	30.3.1803	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck96' 0"Imperial Feet29.2608
Length of Keel77' 8 ⅛"Imperial Feet23.4728
Breadth31' 0"Imperial Feet9.4488
Depth in Hold7' 4"Imperial Feet2.2352
Burthen397 ⁶⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

19.5.1794Broadside Weight = 144 Imperial Pound ( 65.304 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck16 British 18-Pound Carronade

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1793100Design Complement

6 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1.6.1794 - 4.8.1794Commander Transfered ADM 6/25/46BWAS-17934.8.1794 - 21.4.1795Commander ADM 6/25/70BWAS-17938.1795 - 2.1796LieutenantBWAS-17939.1796 - 9.1797CommanderBWAS-17934.9.1797 - 4.1799Commanderref:6164.1799 - 1801CommanderBWAS-1793

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
28.8.1794 - 1794Lieutenant ADM 6/25/81ADM 6/25

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
18.1.1798 - 5.4.1802GunnerADM 29-1

Service History

DateEventSource
26.5.1794Refitted as a 16 gun Unrated Gunboat
2.1796Paid offBWAS-1793
9.1796RecommissionedBWAS-1793
3.1800At SheernessBWAS-1793
3.1802Paid offBWAS-1793
30.3.1803Sold to Mr. Francis Hurry for £525BWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 29-1 Document

ADM 6/25 Archive

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

ref:616Nicholas Tracy, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01	James Daschuk	British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866 British 6 Gun Unrated Steam Sloop
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Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:26	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate frigate 'Seahorse' (1748) (24) 1748-1784 British 24 Gun 6th Rate Frigate

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