British Fifth Rate frigate 'Surprise' (1812)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Recent Comments



Surprise

6635
Nominal Guns38BWAS-1793
NationalityUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered10.4.1809BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down1.1810BWAS-1793
Launched25.7.1812BWAS-1793
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1793
ShipyardMilford Dockyard - Milford Haven BWAS-1793
Ship ClassLeda Class (1794)BWAS-1793
Designed by
Sir John HenslowBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1761-1801
BWAS-1793
Constructor
William StoneBritish
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1793-1839
BWAS-1793
CategoryFifth RateBWAS-1793
Ship TypeFrigateBWAS-1793
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1793
Broken Up2.10.1837BWAS-1793

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck150' 4"Imperial Feet45.72 
Length of Keel125' 8 ⅞"Imperial Feet38.1222 
Breadth40' 0 ½"Imperial Feet12.2047 
Depth in Hold12' 9"Imperial Feet3.6576 
Draught Forward11' 3"Imperial Feet3.3528 
Draught Aft14' 9"Imperial Feet4.2672 
Burthen1,072 33⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


25.7.1812Broadside Weight = 425 Imperial Pound ( 192.7375 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck28 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck6 British 32-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck8 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 32-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1794284Design Complement

2 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
9.1812 - 6.1814Captain
Thomas John CochraneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1805-1856
BWAS-17936.1814 - 9.1815Captain
George William Henry KnightBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1799-1815
BWAS-1793

Service History


DateEventSource
9.8.1812Began fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
1.12.1812Completed fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
19.12.1812Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1793
16.1.1813Took the Privateer
Decatur (12) 1813-1813
American 12 Gun
Privateer Unknown

1.5.1815Took the Schooner
Yankee Lass (9) 1815-1815
American 9 Gun
Privateer Schooner

9.1815Paid offBWAS-1793
5.1822Began fitting as a Convict Ship at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
6.1822Moved to CorkBWAS-1793
6.1822Completed fitting as a Convict Ship at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
2.10.1837Sold at Cork for £2,010BWAS-1793

 
Previous comments on this pageno comments to display
Make a comment about this page






Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Monday 8th of June 2026 17:20F.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 20:01James Daschuk
British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866
British 6 Gun
Unrated Steam Sloop
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56AvM
British Merchant east indiaman 'Zephyr' (1790) (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37Jon 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 19:33Jon Miller
British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
Copyright © Cy Harrison 2010-2026, all rights reserved
GDPR Statement