British Fifth Rate frigate 'Launceston' (1711)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Update
John StylesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Update
Thomas ElkingtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Aurora (28) 1777-1814
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
Update
John Milligan SeppingsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Update
John SkinnerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1794
Added
Princess Royal (6) 1794-1794
British 6 Gun
Merchant Packet
Update
Edward BrowneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Polyphemus (64) 1782-1827
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Update
William ShippardBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Robert PassmoreBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1798
See more...

Launceston	5042
Nominal Guns	42	BWAS-1603
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	29.7.1710	BWAS-1603
Named	2.10.1711	BWAS-1603
Acquired	17.10.1711	B028
First Commissioned	2.10.1711	B028
Shipyard	Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth	B028
Ship Class	1706 Establishment 42-Gunner (1706)	B028
Constructor	Richard StaceyBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1695-1742	BWAS-1603
Category	Fifth Rate	BWAS-1603
Ship Type	Frigate	B028
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	B028
Broken Up to Rebuild	16.7.1728	B028
Becomes	British Fifth Rate ship 'Princess Louisa' (1728) (40) 1728-1736 British 40 Gun 5th Rate Ship

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck118' 4"Imperial Feet35.972
Length of Keel97' 0"Imperial Feet29.5656
Breadth32' 0"Imperial Feet9.7536
Depth in Hold13' 6"Imperial Feet4.0132
Burthen528 ³²⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

17.10.1711Broadside Weight = 150 Imperial Pound ( 68.025 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck20 British 9-Pounder
Lower Gun Deck20 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1706190Design Complement

6 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
2.10.1711 - 8.7.1715Captain ADM 6/11/164ADM 6/119.7.1715 - 21.7.1716Captain ADM 6/12/74
Confirmed 17.7.1716BWAS-160312.4.1717 - 4.11.1718Captain Transfered ADM 6/12/97BWAS-16035.11.1718 - 27.1.1719/20Captain ADM 6/12/143BWAS-160323.12.1720 - 22.10.1722Captain† ADM 6/12/226BWAS-160328.10.1722 - 1.7.1725Captain ADM 6/13/91
Confirmed 10.8.1725BWAS-1714

9 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
3.10.1711 - 8.7.1715Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/11/164ADM 6/119.7.1715 - 28.7.1716Lieutenant ADM 6/12/74ADM 6/1212.4.1717 - 25.1.1719/20First Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/12/98ADM 6/1212.4.1717 - 12.4.1719Second Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/12/98ADM 6/1223.12.1720 - 1.7.1725First Lieutenant ADM 6/12/226ADM 6/1223.12.1720 - 1.7.1725Second Lieutenant ADM 6/12/226ADM 6/1223.12.1720 - 5.10.1722Third Lieutenant ADM 6/12/226ADM 6/126.10.1722 - 26.3.1723Third Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/13/72ADM 6/1327.3.1723 - 1.7.1725Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/13/90
Confirmed 22.6.1725ADM 6/13

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1.1.1713/14 - 20.11.1714Midshipman Extra ADM 6/11/280ADM 6/11

4 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
29.5.1717 - 17.7.1717Midshipman ADM 107/3/88ADM 107/318.7.1717 - 11.12.1717Master's Mate ADM 107/3/88ADM 107/312.12.1717 - 17.2.1717/18Midshipman ADM 107/3/88ADM 107/318.2.1717/18 - 5.12.1718Master's Mate Transfered ADM 107/3/88ADM 107/3

1 Crewman

DatesRatingNameSource
25.8.1724 - 8.2.1724/25Able Seaman Transfered ADM 107/3/180ADM 107/3

Service History

DateEventSource
10.1711Commissioned for the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
28.7.1716

Paid off

ADM 33
10.1716Began small repair at Woolwich - London BWAS-1603
12.1716Completed small repair at Woolwich - London at a cost of £1507.12.4dBWAS-1603
12.4.1717

Recommissioned

BWAS-1603
1718In the BalticBWAS-1603
2.4.1720

Paid off

ADM 33
12.1720Recommissioned for the West IndiesBWAS-1603
c.15.4.1722Took the Sloop B093
1.7.1725

Paid off at Woolwich Dockyard

ADM 33
8.4.1726

Docked at Woolwich to be breaken up and rebuilt

BWAS-1603

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Saturday 23rd of May 2026 15:42

Jamaica, 9 July 1722: His Majesty’s ship the Launceston, commanded by Captain Chandler, having about three months ago brought into that port a pyrate ship which had taken, robbed, and sold, the Mary, Richard Quick commander, bound thither from Boston in New-England, and the Crean snow, John Margeson commander; the crew of that pyrate ship consisting of 58 persons, were brought to their tryal on the 8th of May, before a Court of Admiralty there, and all but 7 of them being convicted, forty one have since been executed pursuant to their sentence; and 7 others, who being young, have received mercy, are to be sent to Europe, to prevent their returning to the same bad course of life. [Stamford Mercury, 11 October 1722]

Posted by Jon Miller on Thursday 21st of May 2026 17:02

London, 15 April 1721: This week the Feversham sailed from Portsmouth for Barbadoes, and the Launceston to cruize on the coast of Jamaica, for the security of commerce. [Newcastle Courant, 22 April 1721]

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Monday 15th of June 2026 13:51	Jon Miller	British schooner 'Redbridge' (1798) (14) 1798-1803 British 14 Gun Unrated Schooner
Monday 15th of June 2026 13:46	Jon Miller	British Merchant east indiaman 'Brunswick' (1792) (Unknown) 1792-1805 British Unknown Gun Merchant East Indiaman
Monday 15th of June 2026 13:40	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Snake' (1797) (18) 1797-1816 British 18 Gun Unrated Sloop
Monday 15th of June 2026 13:40	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Melpomene' (1794) (38) 1794-1815 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 15th of June 2026 13:38	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Raisonable' (1768) (64) 1768-1815 British 64 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line

GDPR Statement