British Sixth Rate frigate 'Medea' (1778)

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Medea
Nominal Guns	28	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	14.5.1776	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	28.4.1778	BWAS-1714
Launched	28.4.1778	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Bristol - England	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Enterprise Class (1771)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	John WilliamsBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1762-1784	BWAS-1714
Constructor	James Martin HillhouseBritish Designer Ship Builder	BWAS-1714
Category	Sixth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Frigate	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Sold	1805	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck120' 9 ½"Imperial Feet36.5887
Length of Keel99' 4"Imperial Feet30.1865
Breadth33' 10"Imperial Feet10.0584
Depth in Hold11' 0 ½"Imperial Feet3.3655
Burthen604 ⁷⁷⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

28.4.1778Broadside 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

7 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
16.5.1778 - 22.7.1778Captain ADM 6/21/406BWAS-171422.7.1778 - 20.9.1780Captain Transfered ADM 6/21/436BWAS-171420.9.1780 - 25.10.1781Captain Transfered ADM 6/22/173BWAS-171425.10.1781 - 31.10.1781Captain ADM 6/22/356ADM 6/2231.10.1781 - 1.1784Captain ADM 6/22/358BWAS-171415.12.1790 - 16.4.1791Captain Transfered ADM 6/24/95ADM 6/244.1798CommanderBWAS-1714

2 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
22.11.1790 - 1790First Lieutenant ADM 6/24/90ADM 6/2422.11.1790 - 1790Second Lieutenant ADM 6/24/91ADM 6/24

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
4.12.1796 - 13.3.1797BoatswainNAO

Service History

DateEventSource
28.4.1778building at Bristol - England at a cost of £6326.2.0dBWAS-1714
10.8.1778coppering and fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £5351.19.2dBWAS-1714
20.10.1778Action of 1778-10-20
1779In the Channel and North SeaBWAS-1714
16.6.1779Took the Sloop
8.10.1780Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
14.1.1781Took the Ship
16.3.1781Battle of Cape Henry
1.5.1781Took the Sloop
5.5.1781Took the Ship
20.6.1781Took the Ship off Cape Sable, Nova Scotia
4.8.1781Took the Ship
13.8.1781Took the Brigantine
29.8.1781Took the Brigantine
5.9.1781Battle of the Chesapeake
10.1781Returned homeBWAS-1714
9.10.1781Took the Privateer ref:692
6.2.1782Sailed with Bickerton's squadron for the East IndiesBWAS-1714
3.9.1782Battle of Trincomalee
16.1.1783Took the Corvette
30.1.1783The Dutch 50-gun East Indiaman Vrijheid was captured under the guns of Cuddalore, on the Indian coast, by the boats of the Medea. The Vrijheid was unfortunately wrecked soon after her capture.TRN4
20.6.17832nd Battle of Cuddalore
1.1784Home and paid off into ordinary at PortsmouthBWAS-1714
1801Damaged by groundingBWAS-1714
10.1801Refitted as a Unrated Hospital Ship

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 6/22 Archive

ADM 6/24 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

NAOVarious, Web Site

TRN4William Laird Clowes, Digital Book

ref:692Jean Jacques Salein, Web Site

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 20th of March 2023 18:57	Cy	French Privateer lugger 'L'Étoile' (1809) (14) 1809-1809 French 14 Gun Privateer Lugger
Monday 20th of March 2023 18:23	A. Morddel	French Privateer lugger 'L'Étoile' (1809) (14) 1809-1809 French 14 Gun Privateer Lugger
Monday 20th of March 2023 17:49	Cy	French Privateer lugger 'L'Étoile' (1809) (14) 1809-1809 French 14 Gun Privateer Lugger
Monday 20th of March 2023 15:31	A. Morddel	French Privateer lugger 'L'Étoile' (1809) (14) 1809-1809 French 14 Gun Privateer Lugger
Monday 20th of March 2023 04:37	Tim Oakley	James SymonsBritish Naval Sailor Service 1780-1808

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