HMS Amphitrite (1778)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
|
|
| Name: | HMS Amphitrite |
| Ordered: | 8 January 1777 |
| Builder: | Deptford Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 2 July 1777 |
| Launched: | 28 May 1778 |
| Completed: | 22 July 1778 |
| Commissioned: | May 1778 |
| Fate: | Wrecked on 30 January 1794 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 24-gun Porcupine-class sixth-rate post ship |
| Tons burthen: | 513 55⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 32 ft (9.8 m) |
| Draught: | 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement: | 160 |
| Armament: |
|
HMS Amphitrite was a 24-gun Porcupine-class sixth-rate post ship of the Royal Navy. She served during the American Revolution primarily in the economic war. On the one hand she protected the trade by capturing or assisting at the capture of a number of privateers, some of which the Royal Navy then took into service. On the other hand, she also captured many American merchant vessels, most of them small. Unfortunately, Amphrite was wrecked early in 1794.
Amphitrite was ordered on 8 January 1777 from Deptford Dockyard, and laid down there on 2 July 1777. She was built under the supervision of Master Shipwright Adam Hayes, and was launched on 28 May 1778. She was commissioned into navy service on 22 July 1778, having cost a total of £12,737.6.6d to build, including the cost of fitting out and coppering.
She was commissioned in May 1778 under the command of Captain Thomas Gaborian. She initially operated as part of the squadron off the Downs. There she captured the French privateer Agneau on 15 August.Amphitrite shared with the sloop Fairy, and the cutters Griffin, Flying Fish, Sprightly, and Wells, in the capture on 24 May of the French privateers Dunkerque and Prince de Robcq, which had "eight ransomers" aboard. Then on 6 July Amphitrite and the cutter Rambler captured the shallop Samuel and Elizabeth.
In 1780 Amphitrite passed under the command of Captain Robert Biggs. She was among the vessels sharing in the proceeds of the capture in January 1780 of the brig Kitty and the ship Jolly Tar. Biggs sailed Amphitrite to North America in May that year. On her arrival she joined Graves's squadron.
In June 1781 Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot sent Amphitrite and several other vessels to attempt to intercept some French reinforcements from entering Boston.
On 30 June Amphitrite captured the brig Adventure. One month later, on 30 July, Medea, Amphitrite, and the armed ship General Monk shared in the capture of the schooner Neptune. The squadron that Arbuthnot sent to Boston recaptured the HMS Atalanta on 7 July.
...
Wikipedia