British sloop 'Swallow' (1744)

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Swallow

4408
Nominal Guns10BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered7.7.1743BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down30.7.1743BWAS-1714
Launched17.2.1743/44BWAS-1714
First Commissioned3.2.1743/44BWAS-1714
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1714
ShipyardDeptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
Ship ClassMerlin Class (1743)BWAS-1714
Designed by
Jacob AckworthBritish
Naval Sailor
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1690-1744
BWAS-1714
Constructor
John BuxtonBritish
Ship Builder
BWAS-1714
CategoryUnratedBWAS-1714
Ship TypeSloopBWAS-1714
Sailing RigSnowBWAS-1714
Wrecked24.12.1744BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck91' 10 ¼"Imperial Feet27.7432 
Length of Keel73' 11 ¾"Imperial Feet22.2695 
Breadth26' 3 ¼"Imperial Feet7.9312 
Depth in Hold6' 11"Imperial Feet1.8542 
Burthen271 55⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


17.2.1743/44Broadside Weight = 33.5 Imperial Pound ( 15.1926 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck10 British 6-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck14 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1743110Design Complement

1 Commissioned Officer


DatesRankNameSource
3.2.1743/44 - 24.12.1744Lieutenant
Richard RobartsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1748
ADM 6/16/267ADM 6/16

Service History


DateEventSource
30.7.1743Began building at Deptford - London BWAS-1714
2.2.1743/44

Propose the Swallow Sloop is supplied with 14 half-pounder swivel guns and 102 men. Mr Buxton, the builder, informs her paintworks will not be dry because of the weather so she will be launched on 17th or 18th

ADM354
17.2.1743/44Completed building at Deptford - London at a cost of £2010.0.0dBWAS-1714
17.2.1743/44fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £1742.0.4dBWAS-1714
2.3.1743/44At Deptford ADM 106
18.8.1744At Province of South Carolina ADM 106
24.12.1744Wrecked between Sal key and Abaco Island in the BahamasBWAS-1714

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Dr. E. Lee Spence on Thursday 11th of February 2016 15:34

I am an underwater archaeologist and I am writing a book on shipwrecks of the Bahamas. I would like to know more about this wreck, as to its location, cause, who and what was saved, etc. I am also wondering if by Sal Key they meant Cay Sal Bank, which is part of the Bahamas, but no where near the island of Abaco.

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