British Sixth Rate frigate 'Brilliant' (1779)

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Brilliant	3419
Nominal Guns	28	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	9.10.1776	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	2.1777	BWAS-1714
Launched	13.7.1779	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Buckler's Hard - Hampshire	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Enterprise Class (1771)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	John WilliamsBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1762-1784	BWAS-1714
Category	Sixth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Frigate	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Broken Up	11.1811	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck120' 6 ¼"Imperial Feet36.5824
Length of Keel99' 6"Imperial Feet30.1921
Breadth33' 8"Imperial Feet10.1261
Depth in Hold11' 0"Imperial Feet3.3528
Draught Forward8' 6 ½"Imperial Feet2.4511
Draught Aft12' 3"Imperial Feet3.6957
Burthen599 ⁸²⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

13.7.1779Broadside Weight = 117 Imperial Pound ( 53.0598 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck24 British 9-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel
Quarterdeck4 British 3-Pounder

1780Broadside Weight = 174 Imperial Pound ( 78.909 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck24 British 9-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 18-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 18-Pound Carronade

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
3.1.1771200Design Complement

19 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
10.7.1779 - 19.10.1780CaptainBWAS-171419.10.1780 - 7.11.1780Captain ADM 6/22/183ADM 6/227.11.1780 - 23.12.1782Captain Transfered ADM 6/22/195BWAS-171423.12.1782 - 1782Captain ADM 6/22/559ADM 6/2223.12.1782 - 9.1.1784CaptainBWAS-171421.9.1790 - 22.11.1790Captain ADM 6/24/68ADM 6/2422.11.1790 - 4.6.1791Captain ADM 6/24/88ADM 6/244.6.1791 - 23.1.1793Captain ADM 6/24/124ADM 6/2424.1.1793 - 2.10.1794Captain Transfered ADM 6/24/197ADM 6/241.1795 - 7.1795CaptainBWAS-17147.1795 - 11.1796CaptainBWAS-17144.1796 - 11.1798CaptainBWAS-171411.1798 - 4.1801CaptainBWAS-17144.1801 - 10.1801CaptainBWAS-171410.1801 - 1803CaptainBWAS-171411.1803 - 10.1804CaptainBWAS-171410.1804 - 5.1806CaptainBWAS-17145.1806 - 9.1806CaptainBWAS-17149.1806 - 1809CaptainBWAS-1714

9 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
20.8.1779 - 4.11.1780Second Lieutenant ADM 6/22/18ADM 6/224.11.1790 - 21.11.1790First Lieutenant ADM 6/24/87ADM 6/244.11.1790 - 3.11.1790Second Lieutenant ADM 6/24/87ADM 6/2422.11.1790 - 23.12.1790First Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/92ADM 6/2422.11.1790 - 12.4.1791Second Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/92ADM 6/2424.1.1793 - 11.3.1795LieutenantNBD18491.3.1799 - 27.3.1800Acting LieutenantNAO2.1800 - 5.1800Lieutenant TransferedNBD184920.5.1805 - 31.3.1806First LieutenantNBD1849

2 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
12.1797 - 11.1798MidshipmanNBD184927.1.1799 - 1799MidshipmanNBD1849

Service History

DateEventSource
13.7.1779building at Buckler's Hard - Hampshire at a cost of £6414.14.0dBWAS-1714
18.7.1779Began coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
9.1779Sailed to the relief of GuernseyBWAS-1714
4.9.1779Completed coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £5989.17.2dBWAS-1714
22.10.1779Sailed to the coast of PortugalBWAS-1714
12.1780Sailed to GibraltarBWAS-1714
16.7.1782Took the Privateer
9.1.1784

Paid off

ADM 51
1.1790Began small repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
10.1790Completed small repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £4550.0.0dBWAS-1714
3.1793fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £1381.0.0dBWAS-1714
1.1795RecommissionedBWAS-1714
6.3.1798Sailed for NewfoundlandBWAS-1714
8.1800At FerrolBWAS-1714
25.8.1800Attack on Ferrol
18.11.1800Took the Ship in the Channel
1803Operations in the Dutch West IndiesBWAS-1714
21.6.1803Capture of St. Lucia and Tobago
10.1803Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
11.1803RecommissionedBWAS-1714
1.1804Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
1805Irish stationBWAS-1714
25.6.1805Took the Corvette
1806Irish stationBWAS-1714
1808Stationed in the Channel IslandsBWAS-1714
20.10.1808Took the Lugger BWAS-1714
2.3.1809Sailed for South AmericaBWAS-1714
11.1811Broken up at PortsmouthBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 51 Archive

ADM 6/22 Archive

ADM 6/24 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

NAOVarious, Web Site

NBD1849O'Brien, Digital Book

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