British floating battery 'Ambuscade' (1799)

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La Résolue (18) 1798-1798
French 18 Gun
Privateer Unknown
(1798)
Phaeton (38) 1782-1828
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1782)
Seahorse (38) 1794-1819
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1794)
Charles John Moore MansfieldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1772-1807
Sir Robert Lawrie (6^th Baronet of Maxwelton)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1847
Sir Graham Eden HamondBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1836
John AllenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1846
Sir Thomas Bladen CapelBritish
Naval Sailor
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Thomas ManbyBritish
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Thomas CamelfordBritish
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Service 1797-1799
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Ambuscade ➡ 1803 Helder
Nominal Guns	32	BWAS-1793
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Previously	Dutch Fifth Rate frigate 'Embuscade' (1795) (32) 1795-1799 Dutch 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Captured	30.8.1799	BWAS-1793
Shipyard	Rotterdam - Holland	M01
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1793
Ship Type	Floating Battery
Sold	6.1807	BWAS-1793

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Length of Gundeck127' 0"Imperial Feet38.7096
Length of Keel103' 4 ¾"Imperial Feet31.4135
Breadth37' 5"Imperial Feet11.2957
Depth in Hold12' 0 ½"Imperial Feet3.6703
Burthen770Tons BM

Armament

4.1803Broadside Weight = 360 Imperial Pound ( 163.26 kg)BWAS-1793
Upper Gun Deck24 British 24-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck8 British 18-Pound Carronade

3 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
4.1803 - 6.1804CommanderBWAS-17936.1804 - 1805CommanderBWAS-17931805CommanderBWAS-1793

Service History

DateEventSource
9.7.1801Foundered at Sheerness, but salvagedBWAS-1793
25.3.1803Renamed HelderBWAS-1793
4.1803Commissioned as a floating battery in the HumberBWAS-1793
4.1803Refitted as a 32 gun Unrated Floating Battery
6.1807Sold at SheernessBWAS-1793

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

M01Ron van Maanen, Document

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Date posted	By	Page
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:29	Jon Miller	French Privateer 'La Résolue' (1798) (18) 1798-1798 French 18 Gun Privateer Unknown
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:29	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Phaeton' (1782) (38) 1782-1828 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:27	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Seahorse' (1794) (38) 1794-1819 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:24	Jon Miller	Charles John Moore MansfieldBritish Naval Sailor Service 1772-1807
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:19	Jon Miller	Sir Robert Lawrie (6^th Baronet of Maxwelton)British Naval Sailor Service 1790-1847

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