British armed storeship 'Tortoise' (1777)

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

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)
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1790)
See more...

Tortoise
Nominal Guns	26	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Previously	British Merchant east indiaman 'Grenville' (1764) (26) 1764-1777 British 26 Gun Merchant East Indiaman
Purchased	21.5.1777	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Deptford - London	BWAS-1714
Constructor	John WellsBritish Ship Builder Service 1748-1794	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Armed Storeship	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Foundered	4.11.1779	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Keel110' 10"Imperial Feet33.528
Breadth34' 7"Imperial Feet10.4077
Depth in Hold14' 2 ½"Imperial Feet4.2799
Burthen705 ⁸⁄₉₄Tons BM

3 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
23.8.1777 - 16.4.1779Commander Transfered ADM 6/21/304BWAS-171419.4.1779 - 25.8.1779Commander ADM 6/22/136
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 26.5.1780ADM 6/2225.8.1779 - 4.11.1779Commander ADM 6/22/66
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 15.12.1779BWAS-1714

Service History

DateEventSource
21.5.1777Purchased at Unknown at a cost of £3160.0.0dBWAS-1714
6.1777Began fitting at Rotherhithe - London - Surrey BWAS-1714
23.6.1777Completed fitting at Rotherhithe - London - Surrey at a cost of £1592.9.1dBWAS-1714
23.6.1777Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
19.7.1777Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £3268.7.8dBWAS-1714
26.12.1778Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
4.11.1779Foundered en-route from St Kitts to England with no lossBWAS-1714

Notes on Ship

OriginBWAS-1714
Mercantile Prussian Eagle

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 6/22 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
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
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:26	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate frigate 'Seahorse' (1748) (24) 1748-1784 British 24 Gun 6th Rate Frigate

GDPR Statement