American Fifth Rate frigate 'Columbia' (1836)

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Ambuscade (32) 1773-1798
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Robert BaylisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1795
La Cantabré (14) 1798-1798
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Columbia
Nominal Guns	50	DANFS
Nationality	United States of America
Operator	United States Navy
Keel Laid Down	1825	DANFS
Launched	9.3.1836	DANFS
How acquired	Purpose built	DANFS
Shipyard	Washington Navy Yard - Washington, D.C.	DANFS
Category	Fifth Rate	DANFS
Ship Type	Frigate	DANFS
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	DANFS
Sold	21.4.1861	DANFS

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentDANFS
Length of Gundeck175' 0"US Feet53.34
Breadth45' 0"US Feet13.716
Draught Aft22' 0"US Feet6.7056
Burthen1,726Tons BM

Armament

1838Broadside Weight = 910 Imperial Pound ( 412.685 kg)DANFS
Gun Deck22 American 42-Pounder Carronade
Gun Deck28 American 32-Pounder
Gun Deck4 American 8" Shell Gun

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1838480 DANFS

1 Ship Commander

DatesRankNameSource
5.1838 - 6.1840LieutenantDANFS

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1838 - 6.1840CommodoreDANFS

Service History

DateEventSource
1.1842Flagship of the Home squadronDANFS
7.1842Moved to the Brazil stationDANFS
5.1844Sailed to the MediterraneanDANFS
12.1844Returned homeDANFS
11.1845Flagship on the Brazil stationDANFS
10.1847Returned home and placed in ordinary at Norfolk Navy YardDANFS
1.1853Flagship of the Home stationDANFS
3.1855DecommissionedDANFS
21.4.1861Scuttled nad burnt to avoid capture by the Confederates at NorfolkDANFS
10.10.1867Wrecked was raised and soldDANFS

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

DANFSUnknown, Web Site

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 15th of June 2026 09:44	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Ambuscade' (1773) (32) 1773-1798 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:19	Jon Miller	Robert BaylisBritish Naval Sailor Service 1790-1795
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:17	Jon Miller	French Privateer brig 'La Cantabré' (1798) (14) 1798-1798 French 14 Gun Privateer Brig
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:16	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Cambrian' (1797) (40) 1797-1828 British 40 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:12	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Kingfisher' (1782) (18) 1782-1798 British 18 Gun Unrated Sloop

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