British Fifth Rate frigate 'Licorne' (1778)

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Licorne

5094
Nominal Guns32BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Previously
French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Licorne' (1755) (32) 1755-1778
French 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Named21.10.1778BWAS-1714
Captured18.6.1778BWAS-1714
ShipyardBrest - Brittany NNF-1715
Ship ClassLicorne Class (1754)NNF-1715
Designed by
Jean GeoffroyFrench
Designer
Ship Builder
NNF-1715
Constructor
Jean GeoffroyFrench
Designer
Ship Builder
NNF-1715
CategoryFifth RateBWAS-1714
Ship TypeFrigateBWAS-1714
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1714
Sold22.11.1783BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck127' 1"Imperial Feet38.7105 
Length of Keel106' 7 ½"Imperial Feet32.3215 
Breadth34' 7 ⅞"Imperial Feet10.3854 
Depth in Hold10' 6 ¼"Imperial Feet3.0544 
Burthen679 82⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


10.1778Broadside Weight = 135 Imperial Pound ( 61.2225 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck26 British 9-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
10.1778220 BWAS-1714

3 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
21.10.1778 - 12.3.1779Captain
Henry BellewBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1743-1779
ADM 6/21/462ADM 6/2112.3.1779 - 31.3.1781Captain
Thomas CadoganBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1770-1782
ADM 6/21/523BWAS-17147.6.1782 - 8.10.1783Captain
William Henry DouglasBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1774-1808
: on board from 14.6.1782 ADM 6/23/246
Issued by
George Brydges Rodney (Baronet )British
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1782
, Barbados - Windward Islands - Barbados & the Leeward Islands
Confirmed 1.10.1784BWAS-1714

Service History


DateEventSource
30.6.1778Arrived in PortsmouthBWAS-1714
9.1778Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
21.10.1778RegisteredBWAS-1714
1.1779Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £4557.12.0dBWAS-1714
31.5.1779Took the Frigate
L'Audacieuse (20) 1778-1779
French 20 Gun
Privateer Frigate

20.6.1779Took the Brig
General Sullivan (14) 1777-1779
American 14 Gun
Privateer Brig

1.1780Began coppering and fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
3.1780Completed coppering and fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham at a cost of £5814.14.8dBWAS-1714
5.7.1780Action off Cape Ortegal
24.12.1780Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
1781Sailed to JamaicaBWAS-1714
31.3.1781Paid offADM 51
4.1782At JamaicaBWAS-1714
8.10.1783

Paid off

BWAS-1714
2.12.1783Sold at Deptford for £740BWAS-1714

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by TF on Wednesday 23rd of January 2019 20:47

Additional contemporary confirmation of the capture of the L'Audacieuse and the General Sullivan by the Licorne {Spelled L corne} can be found in the Gentleman' magazine Vol 49 year 1779 p.468 under date September 11 under the heading "Admiralty Office" [Captured vessels spelled as "Audacute" and "General Sul.ivan" {writing not clear}] considering the time a message would have been to cross the ocean-not suprized it was about 3-4 months late

Posted by Bob Brooks on Wednesday 5th of June 2013 11:09

HMS Licorne was commissioned 21 Oct 1778 under the command of Captain Henry Bellew (ADM 6/21, p.462) with 1st Lieut. Richard Rudsdell & 2d Lieut Edward Pellew assigbed the next day (ibid., p.463). Captain the Hon'ble Thomas Cadogan was Licorne's second commander, commissioned 12 Mar 1779 (ibid., p.523)

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