HMS Squirrel (1703)

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

HMS Squirrel was a development of the standardize 20-gun sixth rates and was built at the beginning of the 18th Century. After commissioning she was captured by French privateers off Hythe in September 1703.

History
England
Name	HMS Squirrel
Ordered	1702
Builder	Royal Dockyard, Portsmouth
Launched	14 June 1703
Commissioned	1703
Captured	21 September 1703
Fate	Taken by French privateers off Hythe
General characteristics
Type	20-gun Sixth Rate
Tons burthen	258+82⁄94 bm
Length	93 ft 6 in (28.5 m) gundeck 78 ft 9 in (24.0 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	24 ft 8 in (7.5 m) for tonnage
Depth of hold	10 ft 8 in (3.3 m)
Armament	20 × 6-pdrs on wooden trucks (UD) 4 × 3-pdr on wooden trucks (QD)

Squirrel was the third named ship since it was used for a discovery vessel with Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1682 and lost in 1583.

Construction

She was ordered on in 1702 from Portsmouth Dockyard to be built under the guidance of their Master Shipwright, Thomas Podd. She was launched on 14 June 1703.

Commissioned service

She was commissioned in 1703 under the command of Commander Gilbert Talbot, RN.

Disposition

She was taken by French privateers off Hythe on 21 September 1703.

References

• Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2009, EPUB ISBN 9781783469246, Chapter 6, The Sixth Rates, Vessels acquired from 18 December 1688, Sixth Rates of 20 guns and up to 26 guns, Nightingale Group, Squirrel
• Colledge, Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © 2020, e ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7 (EPUB), Section S (Squirrel)