HMS Grampus (1782)

HMS Grampus was an Edward Hunt designed Grampus Class 50 gun fourth rate ship. The only other ship of her class HMS Cato was lost on her maiden voyage in late 1782. Grampus was built by John Fisher at Liverpool. Ordered on the 16th of February, 1780, she was laid down in the March of 1781 and launched on the 8th of October, 1782, at Liverpool. She was completed between the 16th of February and the 18th of March, 1783, at Plymouth for £19,281.3.11d. to the builder and an additional £6,238.2.3d. for fitting and coppering.


History
GREAT BRITAIN
Name: HMS Grampus
Ordered: 16.2.1780
Builder: Fisher. Liverpool
Launched: 8.10.1782
Fate: B.U. 1794

General characteristics
Class and type: Grampus Class 50 gun fourth rate ship
Tons burthen: 1062 25⁄94 (bm)
Length: 148 ft 1in (gundeck)
Beam: 40ft 6in
Depth of hold: 17ft 9in
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full rigged ship
Armament:
  • Gundeck: 22 × 24 pdr guns
  • Upper gundeck: 22 × 12 pdr guns
  • QD: 4 × 6 pdr guns
  • FC: 2 × 6 pdr guns

Service.

HMS Grampus was commissioned by Captain Lord James Cranstoun in the September of 1782 but in the March of 1783 was paid off and then fitted for Ordinary at Plymouth immediately on her completion.

In the July of that year she was recommissioned under Captain Edward Thompson who held the post until 1785.and fitted for Foreign Service between the August and December of that same year at a cost of £9,402.7.4d. at Plymouth. Further fitting out specific to service on the coast of Africa took place between the August and September of 1784 costing a further £3,115.3.2d.

Whilst on the African coast serving as Flagship to Commodore Edward Thompson, the Commodore died and Commander George Tripp posted himself captain of that vessel on the 27th of March, 1786, in accordance with the custom on the West African station.

Fate.

In the following month the Grampus sailed for Chatham to be paid off. By Admiralty Orders given on the 18th of July, 1794, Grampus was broken up at Deptford in the following month.