HMS Barracouta (1820)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Barracouta |
| Ordered | 1817 |
| Builder | Woolwich Dockyard |
| Laid down | 1818 |
| Launched | 1820 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Cherokee-class brig-sloop |
| Tons burthen | 23510⁄94 bm |
| Length | 90 ft (27.4 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 24 ft 8 in (7.5 m) |
| Draught | 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) |
| Depth of hold | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Brig rig |
| Complement | 52 |
| Armament |
|
HMS Barracouta was a 10-gun Cherokee-class brig-sloop built for the Royal Navy during the 1810s. The ship was commissioned in 1822 as a survey ship. She helped to survey the eastern coastline of Africa during the 1820s. Barracouta was converted into a packet ship in 1828–1829 and was paid off in 1833. She was sold out of the service in 1836.
The Cherokee-class brig-sloops were designed by Henry Peake, they were nicknamed 'coffin brigs' for the large number that either wrecked or foundered in service, but modern analysis has not revealed any obvious design faults. They were probably sailed beyond their capabilities by inexperienced captains tasked to perform arduous and risky duties.[1] Whatever their faults, they were nimble; quick to change tack and, with a smaller crew, more economical to run.[2] Barracouta displaced 297 long tons (302 t) and measured 90 feet (27.4 m) long at the gundeck. She had a beam of 24 feet 8 inches (7.5 m), a depth of hold of 11 feet (3.4 m), a deep draught of 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m) and a tonnage of 23510⁄94 tons burthen. The ship had a complement of 52 men when fully manned, but only 33 as packet ships. The armament of the Cherokee class consisted of ten muzzle-loading, smoothbore guns: eight 18 lb (8.2 kg) carronades and two 6 lb (2.7 kg) guns positioned in the bow for use as chase guns.[3]