British Fifth Rate frigate 'Minerva' (1759)

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Minerva
Nominal Guns	32	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	25.5.1756	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	1.6.1756	BWAS-1714
Launched	17.1.1759	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	5.1.1759	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Rotherhithe - London - Surrey	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Southampton Class (1756)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Sir Thomas SladeBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1744-1783	BWAS-1714
Constructor	John QuallettBritish Ship Builder Service 1755	BWAS-1714
Category	Fifth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Frigate	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Captured	22.8.1778	BWAS-1714
Becomes	French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Minerve' (1778) (32) 1778-1781 French 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck124' 4"Imperial Feet37.7994
Length of Keel102' 2 ¼"Imperial Feet31.096
Breadth34' 11 ½"Imperial Feet10.3759
Depth in Hold12' 0"Imperial Feet3.6576
Draught Forward8' 10"Imperial Feet2.4384
Draught Aft12' 1"Imperial Feet3.6703
Burthen664 ²⁴⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

17.1.1759Broadside Weight = 177 Imperial Pound ( 80.2698 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck26 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
12.3.1756210Design Complement

5 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
5.1.1759 - 5.8.1761Captain Transfered ADM 6/19/19ODNB5.8.1761 - 18.2.1762Captain Transfered ADM 6/19/338ADM 6/1918.2.1762 - 3.2.1763Captain ADM 6/19/387BWAS-171425.9.1770 - 3.10.1774Captain ADM 6/20/293BWAS-171419.9.1777 - 22.8.1778Captain† Discharged Dead ADM 6/21/314BWAS-1714

4 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
8.10.1759 - 26.3.1761First Lieutenant ADM 6/19/101ADM 6/1926.3.1761 - 7.8.1761Second Lieutenant ADM 6/19/302ref:98017.4.1771 - 3.10.1774First Lieutenant ADM 6/20/366ADM 6/206.1.1794 - 1794Fourth Lieutenant ADM 6/25/40
Issued by , East Indies - Asia
Confirmed 9.5.1794ADM 6/25

1 Petty Officer

DatesRatingNameSource
2.1778 - 22.8.1778Midshipmanref:1336

Service History

DateEventSource
17.1.1759building at Rotherhithe - London - Surrey at a cost of £6427.10.10dBWAS-1714
3.3.1759fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £4369.1.7dBWAS-1714
20.11.1759Battle of Quiberon Bay
8.1.1761Took the Ship
24.1.1761Took the Ship of the Line losing 14 killed and 34 wounded from 3 diedBG
7.1761In the Down's squadronBWAS-1714
9.1761Royal escortBWAS-1714
1762Commissioned for North AmericaBWAS-1714
3.2.1763

Paid off

ADM 33
10.1764Began small repair at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
12.1764Completed small repair at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness at a cost of £1625.0.10dBWAS-1714
7.1769Began small repair at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
1.1770Completed small repair at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness at a cost of £2742.6.11dBWAS-1714
9.1770Recommissioned for the Falkland Islands disputeBWAS-1714
10.1770Began fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
11.1770Completed fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness at a cost of £1040.19.9dBWAS-1714
7.5.1771Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
3.10.1774

Paid off

ADM 33
11.1776Began middling repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
9.1777RecommissionedBWAS-1714
11.1777Completed middling repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £10559.18.6dBWAS-1714
15.2.1778Sailed for the African coastBWAS-1714
22.8.1778Minerva vs Concorde

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Saturday 13th of June 2026 12:37	Jon Miller	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Puissant' (1793) (74) 1793-1816 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
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