British gunboat 'Gunboat No. 27' (1797)

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...

Gunboat No. 27 ➡ 1797 Griper
Nominal Guns	12	BWAS-1793
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	7.2.1797	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	2.1797	BWAS-1793
Launched	10.4.1797	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Northfleet Dockyard - Northfleet	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Courser Class (1797)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	William RuleBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1778-1813	BWAS-1793
Constructor	Thomas PitcherBritish Ship Builder Service 1801	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Gunboat	BWAS-1793
Sold	10.1802	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck76' 1 ¼"Imperial Feet23.1712
Length of Keel62' 2 ½"Imperial Feet18.9103
Breadth22' 7 ¼"Imperial Feet6.712
Depth in Hold8' 3"Imperial Feet2.5146
Draught Forward3' 11"Imperial Feet0.9398
Draught Aft5' 7"Imperial Feet1.7018
Burthen169 ⁶⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

10.4.1797Broadside Weight = 114 Imperial Pound ( 51.699 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck10 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser2 British 24-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
179750Design Complement

5 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
5.1797 - 5.1798LieutenantBWAS-17935.1798 - 1799LieutenantBWAS-17931799 - 1800LieutenantBWAS-17931800 - 1801LieutenantBWAS-17931801LieutenantBWAS-1793

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
- bef.18.7.1798Second Surgeons' Materef:1981

Service History

DateEventSource
13.4.1797Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
7.1797Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1793
7.8.1797Refitted as a 12 gun Unrated Gun-brig
7.8.1797Renamed GriperBWAS-1793
6.1798coppering at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1793
1801In the BalticBWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

ref:1981 Document

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