HMS Ambuscade was a 40-gun fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She had formerly been the French ship Embuscade, captured in 1746.

History
French Royal Navy EnsignFrance
NameEmbuscade
BuilderLe Havre
Laid downNovember 1744
Launched19 March 1745
CompletedJuly 1745
CapturedBy the Royal Navy on 21 April 1746
Royal Navy EnsignGreat Britain
NameHMS Ambuscade
Acquired21 April 1746
FateSold to private adventurers on 9 February 1762
General characteristics
Class and type40-gun fifth rate frigate
Tons burthen740 72/94 bm
Length
  • 132 ft 6 in (40.4 m) (overall)
  • 107 ft 5.5 in (32.8 m) (keel)
Beam36 ft (11.0 m)
Depth of hold10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement250
Armament

Embuscade was a one-off 38-gun design by Pierre Chaillé, with 26 × 8-pounder and 12 × 4-pounder guns and was launched at Le Havre on 19 March 1745. She was captured in the English Channel by HMS Defiance on 21 April 1746.

Ambuscade fought at the First Battle of Cape Finisterre on 3 May 1747, commanded by Captain John Montagu. She captured the privateer Vainqueen on 12 July 1757, and fought with Edward Boscawen against Jean-François de La Clue-Sabran at the Battle of Lagos on 19 August 1759. She was sold at Deptford in 1762 to private adventurers.

Lord Clive and Ambuscade at the attack on Nova Colonia in the River Plate in 1763, under the command of the adventurer Captain John Macnamara

References

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  • Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-86176-295-5.