HMS Spitfire (1782)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain
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| Name: | HMS Spitfire |
| Ordered: | 28 November 1780 |
| Builder: | Stephen Teague, Ipswich |
| Laid down: | December 1780 |
| Launched: | 19 March 1782 |
| Completed: | By 18 July 1782 |
| Fate: | Sold for breaking up on 30 July 1825 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Tisiphone-class fireship |
| Tons burthen: | 422 6⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 29 ft 7 in (9.0 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 9 ft (2.7 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Brig |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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HMS Spitfire was a Tisiphone-class fireship of the Royal Navy. She served during the years of peace following the end of the American War of Independence, and by the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars, had been reclassified as a 14-gun sloop-of-war. Spitfire went on to serve under a number of notable commanders during a successful career that saw her capture a considerable number of French privateers and small naval vessels. She spent most of her career in Home waters, though during the later part of her life she sailed further afield, to the British stations in North America and West Africa. She survived the Napoleonic Wars and was eventually sold in 1825 after a period spent laid up.
Spitfire was built at the yards of Stephen Teague, of Ipswich, and was launched on 19 March 1782. She had been completed at Sheerness by 18 July 1782, having been first commissioned in March that year under Commander Robert Mostyn, for service in the English Channel. He was succeeded by Commander Thomas Byard in November, and he by Commander Charles Bartholomew in January 1783. Spitfire was paid off in April that year and spent a period laid up in ordinary at Sheerness, briefly being refitted for a period of service in 1790 under the command of Commander Robert Watson. Spitfire was then paid off again. More extensive work was carried out the following year, and she recommissioned in March 1791 under Commander Thomas Fremantle. Fremantle commanded her until her paying off in September that year, upon which she was almost immediately recommissioned as a sloop under Commander John Woodley. She served under Woodley in the Irish Sea and the English Channel until Commander Philip Charles Durham succeeded him on 12 February 1793.
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