British sloop 'Cameleon' (1781)

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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
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(1746)
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Cameleon
Nominal Guns	14	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Purchased	2.1781	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Unknown	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Brig	BWAS-1714
Sold	1.5.1793	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck78' 0"Imperial Feet23.7744
Length of Keel58' 7 ⅛"Imperial Feet17.6816
Breadth29' 3 ½"Imperial Feet8.8519
Depth in Hold12' 0"Imperial Feet3.6576
Burthen297 ³⁷⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

2.1781Broadside Weight = 45.5 Imperial Pound ( 20.6346 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck14 British 6-Pounder
Gun Deck14 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
2.178190 BWAS-1714

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
12.3.1781 - 21.3.1782Commander: on board from 21.3.1781 ADM 6/22/260BWAS-171421.3.1782 - 19.6.1783Commander Transfered ADM 6/22/428BWAS-1714

Service History

DateEventSource
23.2.1781Began coppering and fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
3.1781Commissioned for the Downs squadronBWAS-1714
29.5.1781Completed coppering and fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £2161.3.8dBWAS-1714
13.8.1781Patriot vs Cameleon
1.5.1783Sold at Deptford for £800BWAS-1714

Notes on Ship

OriginBWAS-1714
Mercantile Hawke built in 1777

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

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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

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