HMS Elephant (1776)

HMS Elephant was a 10-gun storeship of the Royal Navy which saw active service during the American Revolutionary War. Formerly a merchant vessel named Union, she was purchased by Admiralty in 1776 and sent to North America to resupply larger naval vessels in action against American rebels. She was captured by a 20-gun American privateer on 8 May 1779, following a brisk action which killed her captain and five of her crew. Retaken by the British two days later, she was sailed to Scotland where she was sold out of Navy service in December 1779.

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

History
Great Britain
NameHMS Elephant
Completed8 September 1776
Acquired17 July 1776
CommissionedJuly 1776
In service1776–1779
Out of service1779
FateSold at Greenock, Scotland on 2 December 1779
General characteristics
Class and type10-gun storeship
Tons burthen382 42⁄94 bm
Length
  • 103 ft 3 in (31.5 m) (gun deck)
  • 85 ft 0 in (25.9 m) (keel)
Beam29 ft 1 in (8.9 m)
Depth of hold11 ft 9 in (3.58 m)
Complement40
Armament
  • 10 × 4-pounder cannons
  • 8 × ½-pdr swivel guns
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.