HMS Squirrel (1704)

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History
English Red Ensign 1620.svg England
NameHMS Squirrel
Ordered1703
Builder Royal Dockyard, Portsmouth
Launched28 October 1704
Commissioned1703
Captured7 July 1706
FateTaken by French privateers off the Goodwins, recaptured 5 March 1708 and foundered
General characteristics
Type20-gun Sixth Rate
Tons burthen258+8594 bm
Length
  • 93 ft 6 in (28.5 m) gundeck
  • 80 ft 0 in (24.4 m) keel for tonnage
Beam24 ft 8 in (7.5 m) for tonnage
Depth of hold10 ft 8 in (3.3 m)
Armament
  • 20 × 6-pdrs on wooden trucks (UD)
  • 4 × 3-pdr on wooden trucks (QD)

HMS Squirrel was a development of the standardize 20-gun sixth rates and were built at the beginning of the 18th Century. After commissioning she was assigned to the Channel and the Bay of Biscay. She was captured by French privateers off the Goodwins in 1706. She was recaptured during the French attempt to invade Scotland on 15 March 1708 and foundered. [1]

Contents

Squirrel was the fourth named ship since it was used for a discovery vessel with Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1682 and lost in 1583. [2]

Construction

She was ordered on in 1703 from Portsmouth Dockyard to be built under the guidance of their Master Shipwright, Thomas Podd. She was launched on 28 October 1704. [3]

Commissioned service

She was commissioned in 1705 under the command of Commander Robert Jackson, RN for service in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay. In 1706 Commander Danial Butler, RN took command. She was taken by French privateers off the Goodwins on 7 July 1706. She entered the French Navy as L'Ecureuil. She was recaptured during an attempt by Forbin to invade Scotland in 1708. [4]

Disposition

She was recaptured on 15 March 1708 and foundered. [5]

Citations

  1. Winfield
  2. Colledge
  3. Winfield
  4. Winfield
  5. Winfield

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References