HMS Merlin (1744)

HMS Merlin was a 10-gun snow-rigged sloop-of-war, the first of 21 Royal Navy vessels in the Merlin class. Launched in 1744, she was the first Royal Navy sloop to carry the new 6-pounder cannons, in place of the 3-pounder guns on predecessor craft. As a fast and comparatively heavily armed vessel, she saw active service against French privateers during the War of the Austrian Succession, capturing five enemy vessels during her four years at sea. She was also present for the Battle of Saint-Louis-du-Sud in 1748 but was too small to play a truly active role in bombarding the fort.[1]

Drawing of the Merlin, 1743
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Merlin
Ordered	7 July 1743
Builder	Greville & Whetstone, Limehouse
Laid down	1 August 1743
Launched	20 March 1744
Completed	30 March 1744 at Deptford Dockyard
Commissioned	February 1744
Decommissioned	July 1748
In service	1744–1748
Honours and awards	Battle of Saint-Louis-du-Sud, 1748
Fate	Sold at Plymouth Dockyard, 16 November 1748
General characteristics
Class and type	10-gun Merlin-class sloop-of-war
Tons burthen	271 42⁄94 bm
Length	91 ft 0 in (27.7 m) (gun deck) 74 ft 9 in (22.8 m) (keel)
Beam	26 ft 0 in (7.9 m)
Depth of hold	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Sail plan	Two-masted snow rigging
Complement	110
Armament	10 × 6-pounder guns 12 × ½-pdr swivel guns

The sloop was decommissioned at the end of the War, and declared surplus to Admiralty needs in July 1748. She was sold out of Navy service at Plymouth Dockyard on 16 November 1748.[1]