British sloop 'Opossum' (1808)

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Opossum

5621
Nominal Guns10BWAS-1793
NationalityUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered31.12.1807BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down3.1808BWAS-1793
Launched8.7.1808BWAS-1793
How acquiredBuilt by ContractBWAS-1793
ShipyardGillingham - Kent BWAS-1793
Ship ClassCherokee Class (1807)BWAS-1793
Designed by
Sir Henry PeakeBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1762-1813
BWAS-1793
Constructor
Edward MuddleBritish
Ship Builder
BWAS-1793
CategoryUnratedBWAS-1793
Ship TypeSloopBWAS-1793
Sailing RigBrigBWAS-1793
Sold3.2.1819BWAS-1793

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck90' 2 ½"Imperial Feet27.4447 
Length of Keel73' 6 ½"Imperial Feet22.2631 
Breadth24' 7 ½"Imperial Feet7.3279 
Depth in Hold11' 0"Imperial Feet3.3528 
Draught Forward5' 10"Imperial Feet1.524 
Draught Aft8' 11"Imperial Feet2.4638 
Burthen237 44⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


8.7.1808Broadside Weight = 78 Imperial Pound ( 35.373 kg)B181
Gun Deck8 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser2 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
26.11.180775Design Complement

3 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
11.1808 - 24.1.1811Commander
William Henry ByamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1789-1813
BWAS-179324.1.1811 - 1814Commander
Thomas WolrigeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1802-1821
BWAS-17933.1815 - 1817Commander
John HayBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1804-1843
NBD1849

2 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
4.4.1818 - 14.7.1818Acting Lieutenant
John BrothersBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1807-1818
NBD184914.7.1818 - 8.1818Lieutenant
John BrothersBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1807-1818
NBD1849

2 Warrant Officers


DatesRankNameSource
1.1.1814 - 31.8.1815Master
William WalkerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1814-1826
ref:18715.4.1815 - 4.4.1816Master
William SidneyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1811-1827
ref:1871

1 Petty Officer


DatesRatingNameSource
4.1815 - 14.7.1818Midshipman
Henry BoltonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1809-1830
NBD1849

Service History


DateEventSource
9.7.1808Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1793
15.3.1809Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1793
26.3.1809Sailed with a convoy for the West IndiesBWAS-1793
1811In the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1793
3.1815On the Halifax StationBWAS-1793
3.2.1819Sold at Portsmouth to George Bailey for £900BWAS-1793

 
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