Active-class frigate
Appearance
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2020) |
![]() HMS Astraea captures the Gloire, a print by Thomas Whitcombe
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Class overview | |
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Builders |
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Operators | United Kingdom |
Preceded by | Amazon class |
Succeeded by | Hermione class |
Built | 1780–1784 |
In commission | 1780–1830 |
Planned | 8 |
Completed | 8 |
Lost | 3 |
Scrapped | 5 |
General characteristics | |
Type | 32-gun fifth-rate frigate |
Tons burthen | 68929⁄94 (bm) |
Length |
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Beam | 35 ft 2+1⁄4 in (10.7 m) |
Draught | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
Depth of hold | 12 ft 1+1⁄2 in (3.7 m) |
Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
Complement | 220 |
Armament |
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The Active-class frigate was a 32-gun fifth-rate frigate class of eight ships designed by Edward Hunt to replace the Amazon class design, which they resembled with a distinct midsection. Due to poor performance of the Active class, orders continued for the Amazon class.
Description
[edit]The Active class was designed with a 126-foot (38 m) gundeck, measuring 103 ft 9+5⁄8 in (31.639 m) at the keel, 35 ft 4 in (10.77 m) at the beam, and a draught of 12 ft 2 in (3.71 m). They displaced 689+25⁄94 tons burthen. The class was designed with an armament of 26 12-pounder (5.4 kg) cannon on the gundeck, four 6-pounder (2.7 kg) guns on the quarterdeck with four 24-pounder (11 kg) carronades, and two 6 pdr guns and two 24 pdr carronades on the forecastle.
Ships in class
[edit]- HMS Cerberus (1779) - wrecked attempting to exit Castle Harbour, Bermuda, via Castle Roads
- HMS Active (1780) – wrecked on Anticosti Island in the St Lawrence estuary 13 July 1796, abandoned 30 July 1796.
- HMS Daedalus (1780) - broken up July 1811.
- HMS Fox (1780) – broken up 1816
- HMS Astraea (1781) – wrecked on Anegada Island in the Virgin Islands 23 March 1808.
- HMS Ceres (1781) – broken up 1830.
- HMS Quebec (1781) – broken up 1830.
- HMS Mermaid (1784) - broken up November 1815.
References
[edit]- Winfield, Rif (2014). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. ISBN 978-1-84415-717-4.