British gun-brig 'Vixen' (1801)

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Vixen
Nominal Guns	12	BWAS-1793
Nationality	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	7.1.1801	BWAS-1793
Keel Laid Down	1.1801	BWAS-1793
Launched	9.6.1801	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Buckler's Hard - Hampshire	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Bloodhound Class (1801)	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	Gun-brig	BWAS-1793
Sold	28.3.1815	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck80' 3 ½"Imperial Feet24.3967
Length of Keel65' 7"Imperial Feet19.8476
Breadth23' 1"Imperial Feet7.0189
Depth in Hold8' 6"Imperial Feet2.5908
Burthen185 ⁸²⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

9.6.1801Broadside Weight = 108 Imperial Pound ( 48.978 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck10 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser2 British 18-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
180150Design Complement

4 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
5.1801 - 20.4.1802LieutenantNBD184917.3.1802 - 19.9.1806LieutenantNBD18491807 - 1813LieutenantBWAS-179325.8.1813 - 25.3.1815LieutenantBWAS-1793

Service History

DateEventSource
10.6.1801Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1793
29.6.1801Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1793
8.12.1803Took the Cutter
28.3.1815Sold for £800BWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

NBD1849O'Brien, Digital Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 2nd of June 2026 05:10

Dover, 3 January 1803: The Vixen gun-brig, ran ashore about eight this morning, just at the entrance of Dover harbour, the cause is not known, as it was a calm and clear morning; she will be got off next tide, without any damage. [Kentish Post, 7 January 1803]

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Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Friday 12th of June 2026 21:43	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Boadicea' (1797) (38) 1797-1858 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Friday 12th of June 2026 21:41	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate ship of the line 'Janus' (1778) (44) 1778-1810 British 44 Gun 5th Rate Ship of the Line 1788 Renamed "Dromedary"
Friday 12th of June 2026 21:39	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Phaeton' (1782) (38) 1782-1828 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Friday 12th of June 2026 21:37	Jon Miller	British Merchant merchantman 'Coverdale' (1795) (Unknown) 1795-1806 British Unknown Gun Merchant Merchantman
Friday 12th of June 2026 20:23	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Diamond' (1794) (38) 1794-1812 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate

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