British sloop 'Sylph' (1776)

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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
British 8 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1732)
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Sylph ➡ 1779 Lightning
Nominal Guns	14	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Purchased	18.8.1776	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	25.11.1776	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Unknown	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Sold	1.5.1783	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck85' 0"Imperial Feet25.908
Length of Keel68' 2 ⅞"Imperial Feet20.7486
Breadth27' 6 ¼"Imperial Feet8.236
Depth in Hold11' 8 ½"Imperial Feet3.3655
Burthen274 ⁸⁶⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

10.1776Broadside Weight = 45.5 Imperial Pound ( 20.6346 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck14 British 6-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck14 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

9.1779Broadside Weight = 18 Imperial Pound ( 8.1632 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck8 British 4-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck8 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
10.177690 BWAS-1714
9.177945as a fireshipBWAS-1714

7 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
25.11.1776 - 5.9.1777Commander ADM 6/21/236BWAS-17145.9.1777 - 27.8.1779Commander ADM 6/21/307BWAS-171427.8.1779 - 27.8.1780Commander Transfered ADM 6/22/20BWAS-171427.8.1780 - 9.11.1781Commander ADM 6/22/164BWAS-171415.11.1781 - 28.8.1782Commander Transfered ADM 6/22/365BWAS-171420.8.1782 - 2.10.1782Commander Transfered ADM 6/22/506BWAS-17142.10.1782 - 3.1783Commander ADM 6/22/253BWAS-1714

Service History

DateEventSource
16.9.1776Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
31.1.1777Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £2097.2.5dBWAS-1714
22.2.1777Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
8.1777Began fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
10.1777Completed fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £1317.13.3dBWAS-1714
8.1779Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
25.8.1779Rerated as a 8 gun FireshipEICS
25.8.1779Renamed LightningBWAS-1714
9.1779RecommissionedBWAS-1714
9.1779Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham at a cost of £1745.7.3dBWAS-1714
6.1780coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £810.14.7dBWAS-1714
3.1783Paid offBWAS-1714
1.5.1783Sold at Deptford for £940BWAS-1714

Notes on Ship

OriginBWAS-1714
Mercantile Lovely Lass

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

EICSAndrea Cordani, Cy Harrison, Web Site

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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

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