HMS Serapis (1779)

Defence of Captn Pearson in his Majesty’s Ship Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough Arm’d Ship Captn Piercy, against Paul Jones's Squadron, 23 September 1779, by Richard Paton.
History
Great Britain
NameHMS Serapis
Ordered11 February 1778
BuilderRandall & Brent, Rotherhithe
Laid down3 March 1778
Launched4 March 1779
FateTaken by American Bonhomme Richard, assisted by other vessels
United States
NameSerapis
FateTransferred to France
Merchant Flag of France Pre-1790France
NameSérapis
FateWrecked in 1781 off Madagascar
General characteristics
Class and typeRoebuck-class fifth-rate ship
Tons burthen8792694 (bm; as designed)
Length
  • 140 ft (43 m) (gundeck)
  • 116 ft 4+38 in (35 m) (keel)
Beam37 ft 9+12 in (12 m)
Depth of hold16 ft 4 in (5 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement280 (300 from 1780)
Armament

HMS Serapis was a Royal Navy two-decked, Roebuck-class fifth rate. Randall & Brent built her at Greenland South Dockyard, Rotherhithe[2] and launched her in 1779. She was armed with 44 guns (twenty 18-pounders, twenty 9-pounders, and four 6-pounders). Serapis was named after the god Serapis in Greek and Egyptian mythology. The Americans captured her during the American War of Independence. They transferred her to the French, who commissioned her as a privateer. She was lost off Madagascar in 1781 to a fire.

  1. ^ Demerliac (1996), p. 56, No.327.
  2. ^ Rankin (2004).