HMS Bird

HMS Bird was an 8-gun survey sloop[1] of the Royal Navy, in service from 1764 to 1775 and engaged in an early coastal survey of Ireland.

History
UK
Name: HMS Bird
Builder: Henry Bird, Rotherhithe
Launched: 1765
Completed: 416 August 1764 at Deptford Dockyard
Acquired: May 1764
Commissioned: 1764
Decommissioned: 1775
Fate: Broken up at Deptford, March 1775
General characteristics
Class and type: 8-gun survey sloop
Tons burthen: 75 ​20⁄94 (bm)
Length:
  • 58 ft 6 in (17.8 m) (overall)
  • 45 ft 5 in (13.8 m) (keel)
Beam: 17 ft 7 in (5.4 m)
Depth of hold: 8 ft 1 in (2.5 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: snow-rigged
Complement: 30
Armament: 8 guns (unknown poundage)

The small and lightly-armed vessel was purchased on the stocks in May 1764 from shipwright Henry Bird of Rotherithe.[2] As designed, Bird's overall length was 58 ft 6 in (17.8 m) with a beam of 17 ft 7 in (5.4 m) and hold depth of 8 ft 1 in (2.5 m). She measured 75 ​20⁄94 tonnes burthen and was armed with 8 small guns.[2]

She was fitted out at Deptford dockyard between May and August 1764 at a total cost of £664 and commissioned thereafter under Lieutenant John Cowan.[2] Launched in 1765, she spent four years conducting coastal survey work along the Irish shore, returning to Deptford for refitting in 1769.[2]

Bird was broken up at Deptford Dockyard in March 1775.[2]

References
  1. Colledge 2010, p.44
  2. Winfield 2007, p.354

Bibliography
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2010) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (4th Rev. ed.). Newbury: Casemate. ISBN 978-1-935149-07-1.
  • Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 9781844157006.
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