British gunboat 'Gunboat No. 18' (1797)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Added
Sea-flower (4) 1714-1718
British 4 Gun
Merchant Sloop
Added
Charles BainsBritish
Ship Owner
Merchant Sailor
Service 1714-1718
Added
John ScottBritish
Merchant Sailor
Service 1798
Update
La Vengeance (20) 1797-1800
French 20 Gun
Privateer Unknown
Update
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Update
Woodcot (Unknown) 1786-1798
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Update
Raymond (Unknown) 1782-1798
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman (EIC Regular Ship)
Update
Cassandra (26) 1720-1723
Pirate 26 Gun
6th Rate Ship
Update
Cassandra (26) 1719-1720
British 26 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Added
Richard LazenbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Pirate
Service 1719-1723
See more...

Recent Comments

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
British 8 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1732)
See more...

Gunboat No. 18 ➡ 1797 Spiteful
Nominal Guns	14	BWAS-1793
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	7.2.1797	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	2.1797	BWAS-1793
Launched	24.4.1797	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Built by Contract	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Deptford Green - Deptford - Barnards' Thames Yards	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Acute Class (1797)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	Sir John HenslowBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1761-1801	BWAS-1793
Constructor	Frances BarnardBritish Ship Builder Service 1786-1813	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Gunboat	BWAS-1793
Sailing Rig	Brig	BWAS-1793
Broken Up	16.7.1823	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck75' 3"Imperial Feet22.8752
Length of Keel61' 10 ½"Imperial Feet18.6055
Breadth22' 1"Imperial Feet6.7183
Depth in Hold7' 11 ¾"Imperial Feet2.1527
Draught Forward4' 0"Imperial Feet1.2192
Draught Aft6' 2"Imperial Feet1.8796
Burthen160 ⁴⁷⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

24.4.1797Broadside Weight = 132 Imperial Pound ( 59.862 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck12 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser2 British 24-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
2.179750Design Complement

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
5.1797 - 1798LieutenantBWAS-17931800 - 4.1802LieutenantBWAS-1793

Service History

DateEventSource
24.4.1797Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
30.6.1797Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
7.8.1797Refitted as a 14 gun Unrated Gun-brig
7.8.1797Renamed SpitefulBWAS-1793
10.1798coppering at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1793
14.3.1799

Arrived at Plymouth

TNC
1804Refitted as a Other Vessels Hospital Ship
3.1804fitting as an Hospital Ship at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1793
16.7.1823Broken up at PortsmouthBWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

TNCVarious, Periodical

Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

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

GDPR Statement