HMS Squirrel was a development of the standardize 20-gun sixth rates and was built at the beginning of the 18th Century. After commissioning she was captured by French privateers off Hythe in September 1703.[1]

History
England
NameHMS Squirrel
Ordered1702
BuilderRoyal Dockyard, Portsmouth
Launched14 June 1703
Commissioned1703
Captured21 September 1703
FateTaken by French privateers off Hythe
General characteristics
Type20-gun Sixth Rate
Tons burthen258+8294 bm
Length
  • 93 ft 6 in (28.5 m) gundeck
  • 78 ft 9 in (24.0 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)

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

Construction

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She was ordered on in 1702 from Portsmouth Dockyard to be built under the guidance of their Master Shipwright, Thomas Podd. She was launched on 14 June 1703.[3]

Commissioned service

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She was commissioned in 1703 under the command of Commander Gilbert Talbot, RN.[4]

Disposition

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She was taken by French privateers off Hythe on 21 September 1703.[5]

Notes

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Citations

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

References

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  • Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2009, EPUB ISBN 9781783469246, Chapter 6, The Sixth Rates, Vessels acquired from 18 December 1688, Sixth Rates of 20 guns and up to 26 guns, Nightingale Group, Squirrel
  • Colledge, Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © 2020, e ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7 (EPUB), Section S (Squirrel)