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 | |
| Name | HMS Serapis |
| Ordered | 11 February 1778 |
| Builder | Randall & Brent, Rotherhithe |
| Laid down | 3 March 1778 |
| Launched | 4 March 1779 |
| Fate | Taken by American Bonhomme Richard, assisted by other vessels |
| United States | |
| Name | Serapis |
| Fate | Transferred to France |
| France | |
| Name | Sérapis |
| Fate | Wrecked in 1781 off Madagascar |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Roebuck-class fifth-rate ship |
| Tons burthen | 87926⁄94 (bm; as designed) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 37 ft 9+1⁄2 in (12 m) |
| Depth of hold | 16 ft 4 in (5 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 280 (300 from 1780) |
| Armament |
|
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HMS Serapis was a Royal Navy two-decked, Roebuck-class fifth rate. Randall & Company built her at Deptford Dockyard, Greenwich and launched her in March, 1779. She was originally 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.