HMS Orpheus (1773)

Orpheus
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Orpheus
Ordered	1771
Builder	John Barnard, Harwich
Laid down	May 1771
Launched	7 May 1773 (1773-05-07)
Commissioned	11 June 1773
Fate	Burnt to avoid capture at Newport, Rhode Island, 5 August 1778
General characteristics
Class and type	Lowestoffe-class frigate
Tons burthen	708 40⁄94 bm
Length	130 ft 0 in (39.62 m)
Beam	35 ft 1 in (10.69 m)
Depth of hold	12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Propulsion	Sail
Complement	220–
Armament	UD: Twenty-six 12 lb guns QD: Four 6 lb guns FC: Two 6 lb guns 12 swivels

HMS Orpheus was a British Modified Lowestoffe-class fifth-rate frigate, ordered on 25 December 1770, as one of five fifth-rate frigates of 32 guns each contained in the emergency frigate-building programme inaugurated when the likelihood of war with Spain arose over the ownership of the Falkland Islands (eight sixth-rate frigates of 28 guns each were ordered at the same time). Sir Thomas Slade's design for Lowestoffe was approved, but was revised to produce a more rounded midships section; the amended design was approved on 3 January 1771 by Edward Hawke's outgoing Admiralty Board, just before it was replaced. The contract to build the Orpheus was awarded to John Barnard at Harwich, the keel being laid in May 1771, and the frigate was launched 7 May 1773, at a cost of £12,654.16.11d. She sailed from Harwich on 24 May for Sheerness Dockyard, where she was completed and fitted out to the Navy Board's needs (for £835.7.7d) by 11 June.

Orpheus measured 130 feet 0 inches (39.62 m) on the gun deck and 108 feet 2.5 inches (32.982 m) on the keel, with a breadth of 35 feet 1 inch (10.69 m) (one inch wider than designed) and a depth in hold of 12 feet 6 inches (3.81 m); a total of 708 40⁄94 tons burthen. She mounted twenty-six 12-pounder guns on the upper deck, four 6-pounder guns on the quarterdeck, and two 6-pounder guns on the forecastle; she also carried twelve small (half-pounder) swivel guns. She was established with a complement of 220 men.