British Fifth Rate ship of the line 'Roebuck' (1733)

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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
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British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1782)
La Résolue (18) 1798-1798
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(1782)
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Service 1772-1807
Sir Robert Lawrie (6^th Baronet of Maxwelton)British
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Service 1790-1847
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Roebuck
Nominal Guns	40	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	10.12.1724	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	2.1729	BWAS-1714
Acquired	16.6.1733	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	22.2.1733/34	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	1719 Establishment 40-Gunner (1719)	BWAS-1714
Constructor	John HaywardBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1701-1742	BWAS-1714
Category	Fifth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Sunk as Breakwater	4.1743	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck124' 2"Imperial Feet37.7973
Length of Keel101' 8"Imperial Feet30.988
Breadth33' 3"Imperial Feet10.0838
Depth in Hold14' 0"Imperial Feet4.2672
Burthen597 ⁸⁰⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

16.6.1733Broadside Weight = 180 Imperial Pound ( 81.63 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck20 British 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck20 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1719190Design Complement

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
22.2.1733/34 - 24.3.1740/41Captain Transfered ADM 6/15/166BWAS-171425.3.1741 - 1.11.1742Captain Transfered ADM 6/16/403BWAS-1714

14 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
23.2.1733/34 - 18.3.1733/34First Lieutenant ADM 6/14/169ADM 6/1423.2.1733/34 - 18.3.1733/34Second Lieutenant ADM 6/14/169ADM 6/1423.2.1733/34 - 18.3.1733/34Third Lieutenant ADM 6/14/169ADM 6/1419.3.1733/34 - 13.7.1738First Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/15/177ADM 6/1419.3.1733/34 - 28.11.1738Second Lieutenant ADM 6/15/177ADM 6/1419.3.1733/34 - 18.1.1735/36Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/15/177ADM 6/1419.1.1735/36 - 25.4.1737Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/15/6ADM 6/1526.4.1737 - 28.11.1738Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/15/61ADM 6/1529.11.1738 - 26.12.1740Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/15/152ADM 6/1527.8.1740 - 26.9.1740First Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/15/325ADM 6/1527.12.1740 - 20.2.1740/41Second Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/15/364ADM 6/1527.12.1740 - 20.2.1740/41Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms ADM 6/15/364ADM 6/1520.3.1740/41 - 2.11.1743Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms Transfered ADM 6/15/401ADM 6/1527.3.1741 - 7.11.1741First Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/15/404ADM 6/15

2 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
4.6.1734 - 17.8.1738Volunteer-per-order Transfered ADM 107/3/397ADM 107/319.8.1736 - 13.9.1738Midshipman ADM 107/3/343ADM 107/3

2 Crewmen

DatesRatingNameSource
14.9.1738 - 3.3.1738/39Able Seaman Transfered ADM 107/3/343ADM 107/330.6.1741 - 1.11.1742Captain's Servant Transfered ADM 107/4/272ADM 107/4

Service History

DateEventSource
16.6.1733building at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £9109.7.7dBWAS-1714
16.6.1733Began Completed at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
1734Sailed to NewfoundlandBWAS-1714
14.4.1734Completed Completed at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £912.4.10dBWAS-1714
1735In home watersBWAS-1714
1736Sailed to BarbadosBWAS-1714
1739Returned homeBWAS-1714
10.1740Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
1741Sailed with a convoy to the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
5.1741Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £5997.15.8dBWAS-1714
1742Cruising off the South-West of IrelandBWAS-1714
1.12.1742Ordered to be broken upBWAS-1714
13.12.1742Ordered to be sunk as a breakwater at SheernessBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 107/3 Archive

ADM 107/4 Archive

ADM 6/14 Archive

ADM 6/15 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

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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
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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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