British Fifth Rate ship of the line 'Serapis' (1779)

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Serapis
Nominal Guns	44	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	11.2.1778	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	3.3.1778	BWAS-1714
Launched	4.3.1779	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Rotherhithe - London - Surrey	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Sir Thomas SladeBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1744-1783	BWAS-1714
Constructor	John RandallBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1780-1802	BWAS-1714
Category	Fifth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Captured	23.9.1779	BWAS-1714
Becomes	French Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Serapis' (1779) (50) 1779-1781 French 50 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck140' 2"Imperial Feet42.6733
Length of Keel115' 7 ⅝"Imperial Feet35.0679
Breadth38' 0"Imperial Feet11.5824
Depth in Hold16' 4"Imperial Feet4.8937
Burthen888 ¹⁰⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

3.1779Broadside Weight = 285 Imperial Pound ( 129.2475 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck20 British 18-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
3.1779280EstablishmentBWAS-1714

1 Ship Commander

DatesRankNameSource
1.3.1779 - 23.9.1779Captain ADM 6/21/516ADM 6/21

Service History

DateEventSource
4.3.1779building at Rotherhithe - London - Surrey at a cost of £11837.2.5dBWAS-1714
4.3.1779Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
6.5.1779Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £7003.14.4dBWAS-1714
23.9.1779Taken in action with the Bonhomme Richard off Flamborough HeadBWAS-1714
23.9.1779Battle of Flamborough Head
23.9.1779Taken by the French

Notes on Ship

Wreck site
http://www.serapisproject.org/

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 6/21 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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