HMS Griffin (1758)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Griffin.

History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Griffin
Ordered	6 May 1757
Builder	Moody Janverin, Bursledon
Laid down	June 1757
Launched	18 October 1758
Completed	13 March 1759 at Portsmouth Dockyard
Commissioned	October 1758
Fate	Wrecked off Barbuda, 27 October 1761
General characteristics
Class and type	28-gun Coventry-class sixth-rate frigate
Tons burthen	598 52⁄94 bm
Length	118 ft 4.5 in (36.1 m) (gundeck) 97 ft 7 in (29.7 m) (keel)
Beam	33 ft 11.5 in (10.4 m)
Depth of hold	10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	200 officers and men
Armament	28 guns comprising: Upperdeck: 24 × 9-pounder guns Quarterdeck: 4 × 3-pounder guns 12 × ½-pdr swivel guns

HMS Griffin was a 28-gun Coventry-class sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy.

Construction

Griffin was an oak-built 28-gun sixth-rate, one of 18 vessels forming part of the Coventry-class of frigates. As with others in her class she was loosely modeled on the design and dimensions of HMS Tartar, launched in 1756 and responsible for capturing five French privateers in her first twelve months at sea. Admiralty contracts for Griffin's construction were issued to commercial shipwright Moody Janverin of Bursledon on 16 May 1757, with a stipulation that work be completed within twelve months. Her keel was laid down in June 1757 but work proceeded slowly and the vessel was not launched until 18 October 1758. On 26 October she was sailed to the Royal Navy dockyard at Portsmouth where she was armed and supplied for service at sea.

As built, Griffin was 118 ft 4.5 in (36.1 m) long with a 97 ft 7 in (29.7 m) keel, a beam of 33 ft 11 in (10.34 m), and measuring 59852⁄94 tonnes burthen. Her armament comprised 24 nine-pounder cannons located along her gun deck, supported by four three-pounder cannons on the quarterdeck and twelve 1⁄2-pounder swivel guns ranged along her sides. Her crewing complement was 200 officers and men.

References

Bibliography

• Gardner, Robert (1992). The First Frigates: Nine-Pounder and Twelve-Pounder Frigates, 1748-1815. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0851776019.
• Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 9781844157006.