British sloop 'Merlin' (1756)

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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)
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
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Unrated Sloop
(1732)
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Merlin
Nominal Guns	10	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	9.7.1755	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	18.7.1755	BWAS-1714
Named	29.7.1755	BWAS-1714
Launched	20.3.1756	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Rotherhithe - London - Surrey	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Bonetta Class (1755)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Sir Thomas SladeBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1744-1783	BWAS-1714
Constructor	John QuallettBritish Ship Builder Service 1755	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Snow	BWAS-1714
Captured	19.4.1757	BWAS-1714
Becomes	French sloop 'Le Merlin' (1757) (10) 1757-1757 French 10 Gun Unrated Sloop

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck86' 6 ½"Imperial Feet26.2255
Length of Keel70' 2 ¼"Imperial Feet21.3424
Breadth24' 5 ½"Imperial Feet7.3279
Depth in Hold10' 10"Imperial Feet3.048
Burthen223 ¹⁶⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

20.3.1756Broadside Weight = 33 Imperial Pound ( 14.9658 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck10 British 6-Pounder
Gun Deck12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1755100Design Complement

1 Ship Commander

DatesRankNameSource
10.6.1756 - 19.4.1757CommanderBWAS-1714

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
13.9.1756 - 19.4.1757Master ADM 107/5/223ADM 107/5

Service History

DateEventSource
18.7.1755Began building at Rotherhithe - London - Surrey BWAS-1714
20.3.1756Completed building at Rotherhithe - London - Surrey at a cost of £1708.10.10dBWAS-1714
20.3.1756Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
24.4.1756Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £1604.16.0dBWAS-1714
19.4.1757Taken by

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 107/5 Archive

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
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

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