British sloop 'Viper' (1746)

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Viper ➡ 1755 Lightning

7339
Nominal Guns10BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered11.4.1745BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down1.6.1745BWAS-1714
Named3.5.1746BWAS-1714
Launched11.6.1746BWAS-1714
First Commissioned29.5.1746BWAS-1714
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1714
ShipyardPoole - Dorset BWAS-1714
Ship ClassMerlin Class (1743)BWAS-1714
Designed by
Jacob AckworthBritish
Naval Sailor
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1690-1744
BWAS-1714
Constructor
Tito DurrellBritish
Ship Builder
BWAS-1714
CategoryUnratedBWAS-1714
Ship TypeSloopBWAS-1714
Sailing RigSnowBWAS-1714
Sold30.12.1762BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck91' 0"Imperial Feet27.7368 
Length of Keel74' 9"Imperial Feet22.6124 
Breadth26' 1"Imperial Feet7.929 
Depth in Hold12' 1"Imperial Feet3.6703 
Burthen270 48⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


11.6.1746Broadside Weight = 33.5 Imperial Pound ( 15.1926 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck10 British 6-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck14 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

1748Broadside Weight = 45.5 Imperial Pound ( 20.6346 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck14 British 6-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck14 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1743110Design Complement
1748125 BWAS-1714

7 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
29.5.1746 - 9.7.1747Commander
Robert RoddamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1741-1805
: on board from 30.5.1746 ADM 6/17/109BWAS-17149.7.1747 - 7.10.1748Commander
James HackmanBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1733-1763
ADM 6/17/242BWAS-171428.10.1748 - 19.2.1753Commander
Cornelius SmeltBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1734-1753
ADM 6/17/395BWAS-17145.5.1756 - 17.1.1757Commander
Richard KempenfeltBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1727-1782
ADM 6/18/262ADM 6/1821.1.1757 - 12.12.1757Commander
Henry MartinBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1749-1780
Transfered ADM 6/18/347ADM 6/1812.12.1757 - 23.1.1759Commander
William GoostreyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1762
ADM 6/18/469ADM 6/1821.11.1760 - 21.10.1762Commander
Joseph NorwoodBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1777
ADM 6/19/210ADM 6/19

4 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
21.3.1748/49 - 15.11.1752Lieutenant
Charles StuartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1745-1752
ADM 6/17/450ADM 6/1714.10.1756 - 29.1.1757Lieutenant
Edward HodderBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1745-1762
Transfered ADM 6/18/315ADM 6/1829.1.1757 - 14.12.1757Lieutenant
Paul LovelaceBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1726-1757
ADM 6/18/350ADM 6/1814.12.1757 - 29.1.1759Lieutenant
Henry AshingtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1750-1797
Transfered ADM 6/18/462ADM 6/18

1 Warrant Officer


DatesRankNameSource
16.9.1747 - 1747Boatswain
John AllenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1741-1747
ADM 6/17/268ref:1788

Service History


DateEventSource
1.6.1745Began building at Poole - Dorset BWAS-1714
11.6.1745Completed building at Poole - Dorset at a cost of £1043.10.0dBWAS-1714
11.6.1746Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
9.8.1746Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £1520.3.10dBWAS-1714
15.10.1746Took the Xebec
Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (4) 1745-1746
Spanish 4 Gun
Privateer Xebec

7.1.1746/47Took the Privateer
Le Demouchy (Unknown) 1747-1747
French Unknown Gun
Privateer Unknown

20.6.1747Took the Privateer
La Dichosa (2) 1747-1747
Spanish 2 Gun
Privateer Unknown

12.8.1747Took the Privateer
L'Hector (28) 1747-1747
French 28 Gun
Privateer Unknown
BG
1748Refitted as a 14 gun Unrated SloopBWAS-1714
7.10.1748Paid offADM 106
1749Sailed to JamaicaBWAS-1714
19.2.1753

Paid off at Plymouth Dockyard

ADM 6/18
1.7.1753SurveyedBWAS-1714
29.7.1755Refitted as a 8 gun Unrated FireshipBWAS-1714
29.7.1755Renamed LightningBWAS-1714
8.1755Began fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
12.1755Completed fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £1891.4.11dBWAS-1714
8.1756Refitted as a 6 gun Unrated Hospital ShipBWAS-1714
8.1756fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £1554.2.11dBWAS-1714
8.1757Louisbourg Expedition
6.6.1758The Siege of Louisbourg
3.1759fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £605.3.7dBWAS-1714
21.10.1762Paid offADM 33
20.12.1762SurveyedBWAS-1714
27.12.1762Ordered to be soldBWAS-1714
30.12.1762Sold at Woolwich for £1,105BWAS-1714

 
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