British sloop 'Bittern' (1796)

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William ShippardBritish
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Ambuscade (32) 1773-1798
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1773)
Robert BaylisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1795
La Cantabré (14) 1798-1798
French 14 Gun
Privateer Brig
(1798)
Cambrian (40) 1797-1828
British 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1797)
Kingfisher (18) 1782-1798
British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1782)
La Résolue (18) 1798-1798
French 18 Gun
Privateer Unknown
(1798)
Phaeton (38) 1782-1828
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1782)
Seahorse (38) 1794-1819
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1794)
Charles John Moore MansfieldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1772-1807
Sir Robert Lawrie (6^th Baronet of Maxwelton)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1847
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Bittern
Nominal Guns	18	BWAS-1793
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	24.1.1795	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	6.1795	BWAS-1793
Named	13.10.1795	BWAS-1793
Launched	7.4.1796	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Built by Contract	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Buckler's Hard - Hampshire	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Bittern Class (1794)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	Sir John HenslowBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1761-1801	BWAS-1793
Constructor	Balthazar AdamsBritish Ship Builder Service 1783-1814	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1793
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1793
Sold	30.8.1833	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck110' 2 ½"Imperial Feet33.5407
Length of Keel90' 10 ⅝"Imperial Feet27.4479
Breadth29' 6 ¾"Imperial Feet8.8583
Depth in Hold8' 6"Imperial Feet2.4384
Draught Forward8' 9"Imperial Feet2.667
Draught Aft12' 3"Imperial Feet3.6957
Burthen422 ⁴⁶⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

7.4.1796Broadside Weight = 102 Imperial Pound ( 46.257 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck18 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck6 British 12-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 12-Pound Carronade

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1794121Design Complement

7 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
5.1796 - 10.1797CommanderBWAS-179321.9.1797 - 1801CommanderBWAS-17939.1802 - 1.1805CommanderBWAS-17937.1805 - 1.1806CommanderBWAS-17931.1806 - 1808CommanderBWAS-17931808CommanderBWAS-17937.1812 - 12.1815CommanderBWAS-1793

4 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
12.11.1805 - 2.3.1808LieutenantNBD184923.7.1812 - 2.11.1812LieutenantNBD184911.1824 - 12.1825LieutenantBWAS-179312.1825 - 2.1828LieutenantBWAS-1793

Service History

DateEventSource
6.1795Began building at Buckler's Hard - Hampshire BWAS-1793
7.4.1796Completed building at Buckler's Hard - Hampshire at a cost of £5404.0.0dBWAS-1793
10.4.1796Began fitting at Buckler's Hard - Hampshire BWAS-1793
2.7.1796Completed fitting at Buckler's Hard - Hampshire at a cost of £7264.0.0dBWAS-1793
2.3.1797Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1793
15.3.1797Took the Privateer off Barbados and sent into Barbados.BG
13.9.1797Took the Ship off Tortola
8.9.1798Took the Brig off Marie GalantTNC
6.1800Returned homeBWAS-1793
1.1803Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1793
10.9.1803Took the Privateer in the Mediterranean
28.4.1804Took the Brig in the Mediterranean
1812In Ordinary at PlymouthBWAS-1793
12.1815Laid up at PlymouthBWAS-1793
7.1824Refitted as a Unrated Tender
7.1824Began fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1793
12.1824Completed fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £4120.0.0dBWAS-1793
2.1828Laid up at PlymouthBWAS-1793
30.8.1833Sold to Tibbett & Spence for £1,930BWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BGOfficial, Web Site

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

NBD1849O'Brien, Digital Book

TNCVarious, Periodical

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Friday 12th of June 2026 02:59

The Bittern sloop of war of 16 guns, Capt Lavie, has taken a Lima ship in the West Indies, worth £60,000 sterling, and sent her into Martinique. [Hampshire Chronicle, 8 April 1797]

Posted by Tim Oakley on Friday 1st of June 2012 21:50

NB George Bague end date before start date

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