British Sixth Rate ship 'Hydra' (1778)

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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)
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(1841)
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(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
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Service 1728-1749
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British 74 Gun
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Hydra
Nominal Guns	24	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	21.4.1778	BWAS-1714
Named	19.5.1778	BWAS-1714
Acquired	8.8.1778	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purchased on the Stocks	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Adams & BarnardBritish Ship Builder	BWAS-1714
Category	Sixth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Sold	1.5.1783	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck109' 4 ½"Imperial Feet33.2359
Length of Keel90' 7 ¾"Imperial Feet27.4511
Breadth30' 8 ¼"Imperial Feet9.1504
Depth in Hold10' 6 ½"Imperial Feet3.0607
Burthen454 ⁵⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

8.1778Broadside Weight = 108 Imperial Pound ( 48.978 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck24 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
8.8.1778160 BWAS-1714

4 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
24.7.1778 - 1.10.1779Captain Transfered ADM 6/21/437BWAS-17141.10.1779 - 1781Captain ADM 6/22/31BWAS-17141782 - 1.12.1782Captain TransferedBWAS-17141.12.1782 - 1783Captain ADM 6/23/130
Issued by , Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Confirmed 29.8.1783BWAS-1714

Service History

DateEventSource
1778In the Western SquadronBWAS-1714
12.8.1778Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
29.9.1778Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £4125.17.2dBWAS-1714
16.11.1779Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
1.1781Began coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
4.1781Completed coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £3359.9.4dBWAS-1714
14.4.1781Sailed for JamaicaBWAS-1714
4.1783Paid offBWAS-1714
1.5.1783Sold for £2,400BWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

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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
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Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753 British 20 Gun 6th Rate Ship

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