British sloop 'Rattler' (1783)

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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
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Rattler
Nominal Guns	16	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	28.12.1781	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	3.1782	BWAS-1714
Launched	22.3.1783	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Sandgate - Kent	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Echo Class (1781)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Edward HuntBritish Ship Builder Administrator Dockyard Staff Service 1757-1809	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Francis C WillsonBritish Ship Builder	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Sold	6.9.1792	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck101' 4"Imperial Feet30.8864
Length of Keel83' 4 ½"Imperial Feet25.3111
Breadth27' 9"Imperial Feet8.2623
Depth in Hold12' 10"Imperial Feet3.6576
Burthen341 ⁴⁸⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

22.3.1783Broadside Weight = 84 Imperial Pound ( 38.094 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck16 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 12-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 12-Pound Carronade

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1781125Design Complement

9 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
21.4.1783 - 9.6.1783Commander ADM 6/23/53ADM 6/239.6.1783 - 20.4.1787Commander† ADM 6/23/81ADM 6/2320.4.1787 - 11.10.1787LieutenantBWAS-17141.12.1787Commander ADM 6/23/440ADM 6/2324.6.1789Commander ADM 6/23/532ADM 6/2326.8.1789 - 8.10.1789Commander ADM 6/23/541ADM 6/239.10.1789 - 4.4.1791Commander ADM 6/24/5BWAS-171422.11.1790 - 3.4.1791Commander ADM 6/24/89ADM 6/244.4.1791 - 7.2.1793Commander Transfered ADM 6/24/120
Issued by , Halifax - Nova Scotia
Confirmed 4.5.1791ADM 6/24

2 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
23.8.1790 - 10.2.1793Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/107
Issued by , Nova Scotia - Canada - Saint Lawrence & Nova Scotia
Confirmed 10.2.1791ADM 6/2413.7.1791 - 8.6.1792Second Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/145
Issued by , Halifax - Nova Scotia
Confirmed 4.11.1791ADM 6/24

Service History

DateEventSource
3.1782Began building at Sandgate - Kent BWAS-1714
22.3.1783Completed building at Sandgate - Kent at a cost of £3572.16.0dBWAS-1714
4.7.1783Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
21.7.1783Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham at a cost of £3182.16.9dBWAS-1714
8.2.1784Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
3.1787Sheathed at AntiguaBWAS-1714
11.10.1787

Paid off

ADM 51
11.1788Began middling repair at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
3.1789Completed middling repair at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £5348.0.0dBWAS-1714
10.1789RecommissionedBWAS-1714
10.1789Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
12.1789Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £468.0.0dBWAS-1714
28.3.1790Sailed for Nova ScotiaBWAS-1714
1.6.1792

Paid off

ADM 51
6.9.1792Sold to Messrs Enderby & SonsBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 51 Archive

ADM 6/23 Archive

ADM 6/24 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

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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"
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