British sloop 'Swallow' (1779)

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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
Hermione (32) 1782-1797
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1782)
Lord Camden (Unknown) 1783-1799
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1783)
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Swallow
Nominal Guns	14	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Acquired	2.4.1779	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purchased on the Stocks	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Dover - New Hampshire	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Henry LaddBritish Ship Builder	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Brig	BWAS-1714
Burnt to avoid capture	26.8.1781	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck79' 5"Imperial Feet24.0933
Length of Keel60' 2"Imperial Feet18.3388
Breadth26' 7"Imperial Feet7.9544
Depth in Hold10' 2"Imperial Feet3.0988
Burthen226 ⁵⁴⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

4.1779Broadside Weight = 28 Imperial Pound ( 12.698 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck14 British 4-Pounder

18.5.1780Broadside Weight = 64 Imperial Pound ( 29.024 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck4 British 18-Pound Carronade
Upper Gun Deck14 British 4-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
4.177980 BWAS-1714

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
20.3.1779 - 7.2.1781Commander ADM 6/21/527BWAS-17147.2.1781 - 26.8.1781Commander ADM 6/22/359BWAS-1714

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
8.2.1781 - 11.4.1781Lieutenant ADM 6/22/289
Issued by , Barbados - Windward Islands - Barbados & the Leeward Islands
Confirmed 21.5.1781ADM 6/22

Service History

DateEventSource
3.1779Commissioned for the Western squadronBWAS-1714
18.4.1779Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
6.1779Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
25.9.1779Took the Snow losing 1 killed and 1 woundedBG
1780In the DownsBWAS-1714
10.7.1780Began coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
8.1780Completed coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £943.1.4dBWAS-1714
2.12.1780Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
3.2.1781At the capture of St EustatiusBWAS-1714
15.8.1781Action off Sandy Hook
26.8.1781Intercepted by four US Privateers off Long Island. Run ashore and burnt to avoid captureBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 6/22 Archive

BGOfficial, Web Site

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
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"
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:08	Jon Miller	British gun-brig 'Swinger' (1794) (12) 1794-1802 British 12 Gun Unrated Gun-brig
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:08	Jon Miller	British gunboat 'Gunboat No. 23' (1797) (12) 1797-1802 British 12 Gun Unrated Gunboat 1797 Renamed "Furious"

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