French sloop 'L'Observateur' (1800)

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Ganges (74) 1782-1816
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1782)
Henry WickhamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1685-1693
Thomas CamelfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1797-1799
John Clarke SearleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1811
Gunboat No. 7 (14) 1797-1802
British 14 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
1797 Renamed "Sparkler"
(1797)
Swinger (12) 1794-1802
British 12 Gun
Unrated Gun-brig
(1794)
Gunboat No. 23 (12) 1797-1802
British 12 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
1797 Renamed "Furious"
(1797)
Thomas HopperBritish
Marine
Service 1794-1802
Robert WinthropBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1807
Sir John LawfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1832
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L'Observateur
Nominal Guns	16	BWAS-1793
Nationality	République Française
Operator	State Navy
Keel Laid Down	7.1799	BWAS-1793
Launched	25.6.1800	BWAS-1793
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Le Havre - Normandy	BWAS-1793
Ship Class	Vigilant Class (1799)	BWAS-1793
Designed by	Pierre-Alexander ForfaitFrench Designer Ship Builder Administrator Service 1773-1806	BWAS-1793
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1793
Sailing Rig	Brig	BWAS-1793
Captured	9.6.1806	BWAS-1793
Becomes	British sloop 'Observateur' (1806) (16) 1806-1814 British 16 Gun Unrated Sloop

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck90' 6"Imperial Feet27.5844
Length of Keel72' 8"Imperial Feet22.0472
Breadth28' 0"Imperial Feet8.5344
Depth in Hold7' 6"Imperial Feet2.286
Burthen303Tons BM

Armament

25.6.1800Broadside Weight = 32 French Livre (34.5344 lbs 15.664 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck16 French 4-Pounder

Service History

DateEventSource
9.6.1806Taken by in the West Indies
10.1807Began small repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1793
4.1808Completed small repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £18011.0.0dBWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Sunday 14th of June 2026 06:41	Rob Griffith	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Ganges' (1782) (74) 1782-1816 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:20	Jon Miller	Henry WickhamBritish Naval Sailor Service 1685-1693
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:14	Jon Miller	Thomas CamelfordBritish Naval Sailor Service 1797-1799
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:12	Jon Miller	John Clarke SearleBritish Naval Sailor Service 1780-1811
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:09	Jon Miller	British gunboat 'Gunboat No. 7' (1797) (14) 1797-1802 British 14 Gun Unrated Gunboat 1797 Renamed "Sparkler"

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