British Fifth Rate frigate 'Astraea' (1781)

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Astraea	3169
Nominal Guns	32	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	7.5.1779	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	9.1779	BWAS-1714
Launched	24.7.1781	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	East Cowes - Isle of Wight	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Active Class	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Edward Hunt (d.bef.1740)	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Robert Fabian	BWAS-1714
Category	Fifth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Frigate	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Wrecked	23.3.1808	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck126' 0"Imperial Feet38.4048
Length of Keel103' 7 ⅜"Imperial Feet31.4039
Breadth35' 9"Imperial Feet10.7137
Depth in Hold12' 0"Imperial Feet3.6576
Draught Forward8' 10"Imperial Feet2.4384
Draught Aft13' 8"Imperial Feet4.0301
Burthen703 ⁴⁴⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

24.7.1781Broadside Weight = 246 Imperial Pound ( 111.561 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck26 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 24-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 24-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1778250Design Complement

11 Commanding Officers

DatesRankNameSource
2.7.1781 - 25.2.1784CaptainMathew Squire (d.1800) ADM 6/22/307BWAS-171420.9.1786 - 16.6.1790CaptainPeter Rainier (1741-1808) ADM 6/23/356BWAS-171422.11.1790 - 12.5.1791CaptainThe Hon. Henry Curzon (1765-1846) ADM 6/24/88ADM 6/2426.8.1793 - 23.5.1794CaptainRobert Moorsom (1760-1835) ADM 6/24/263BWAS-171423.5.1794 - 6.1795CaptainHarry Powlett ADM 6/25/43BWAS-17146.1795 - 4.1797CaptainRichard Lane (d.1799)BWAS-17144.1797 - 9.1799CaptainRichard Dacres (1761-1837)BWAS-17144.1800 - 16.4.1802CommanderPeter Ribouleau (d.1847)BWAS-17144.1805 - 2.1806CaptainJames CarthewBWAS-17142.1806 - 11.1807CaptainJames DunbarBWAS-171411.1807 - 23.3.1808CaptainEdmund HeywoodBWAS-1714

2 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
5.1795 - 6.1795First LieutenantWilliam Pryce Cumby (1771-1837)ref:6168.4.1799 - 1.1.1800First LieutenantThomas BrowneNBD1849

2 Warrant Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
23.9.1787 - 28.6.1790MasterJames Banks Robinson (c.1748-1819)ADM29-123.2.1803 - 2.7.1804BoatswainThomas NeedhamNAO

2 Crewmen

DatesRatingNameSource
24.2.1788 - 4.1790Captain's ServantPatrick Campbell (1773-1841)ref:6161795Ordinary SeamanWilliam MainlandADM 171/8

Service History

DateEventSource
24.7.1781building at East Cowes - Isle of Wight at a cost of £7542.19.11dBWAS-1714
25.7.1781coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £7855.1.6dBWAS-1714
7.10.1781Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
20.12.1782Capture of the South Carolina
15.3.1783Took the Ship Julius Caesar (14)
1.1784Paid offBWAS-1714
9.1784Began small repair at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
11.1784Completed small repair at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £3414.0.0dBWAS-1714
7.1786Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
9.1786RecommissionedBWAS-1714
11.1786Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £4271.0.0dBWAS-1714
6.1.1787Sailed for JamaicaBWAS-1714
5.1790Paid offBWAS-1714
1.1793RecommissionedBWAS-1714
5.1793Began repairs at Rotherhithe - London - Surrey BWAS-1714
8.1793Completed repairs at Rotherhithe - London - Surrey at a cost of £5347.0.0dBWAS-1714
9.1793Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
10.1793Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £4677.0.0dBWAS-1714
10.4.1795Astraea vs Gloire
10.4.1795Took the Frigate Gloire (32) in the Channel
23.6.1795Action of Ile Groix
10.3.1796Sailed for JamaicaBWAS-1714
26.4.1796Capture of St Lucia
27.4.1796At St LuciaBWAS-1714
6.1796At St Vincent and GrenadaBWAS-1714
1.6.1797Took the Privateer Stuiver (10) off the Scaw
22.4.1798Took the Schooner La Renommée (5) on the Dogger BankBG
20.5.1798Took the Privateer La Vengeance (6) near Jamaica
10.4.1799Took the Lugger Le Marsouin (14) in the North Sea
24.4.1799

Arrived at Yarmouth

TNC
9.1799Paid offBWAS-1714
3.1800Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
4.1800RecommissionedBWAS-1714
4.1800Refitted as a 16 gun Unrated Troop Ship
6.1800Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £7355.0.0dBWAS-1714
1801Egypt operationsBWAS-1714
11.1804Began repairs at Deptford - London BWAS-1714
4.1805RecommissionedBWAS-1714
4.1805Refitted as a 32 gun Fifth Rate Frigate
5.1805Completed repairs at Deptford - London at a cost of £12506.0.0dBWAS-1714
5.1805Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
6.1805Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
14.12.1807Took the Privateer La Providence (14)
23.3.1808Wrecked on Anegada Island (Virgin Islands) losing 4 menBWAS-1714

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