gun venus class fifth rate frigate royal_navy saw active service seven years war france designed launched following year royal_navy vessels built classic frigate design single gun deck emphasis speed principal focus hunter french capturing vessels sinking years sea performed regular french navy battle cape capable deployed bombardment duty enemy ports decommissioned sold thirteen years later wrecked naval historian described brilliant best british fighting cruisers day remained slightly inferior french speed weight ordinance ship built venus class design construction venus class gun frigates designed surveyor navy master alongside smaller cousin gun southampton class venus class represented experiment ship design fast medium sized heavily armed capable smaller craft engaging enemy cruisers large innovation borrowed contemporary french ship design removing lower deck gun ports locating ship cannons solely upper deck permitted carrying heavier ordinance substantial increase hull size required lower gun ports consistently waterline lower deck instead additional stores enabling venus class frigates remain sea longer periods resupply admiralty approved venus class design july ships ordered brilliant constructed construction overseen navy plymouth commenced laying keel august vessel formally named brilliant march admiralty review found inefficient poorly staffed suffering notorious neglect work brilliant proceeded completed early october built brilliant feet inches long feet inches keel beam feet inches rigged ship measured tons equipped ship boats crew complement officers men armament brilliant principal armament iron cast pound cannons located upper deck guns constructed shorter barrels traditional pound cannons long fit frigate narrow beam cannon weighed long cwt gun barrel length feet inches compared feet inches equivalent larger royal_navy vessels pound cannons supported pounder guns quarterdeck forecastle weighing long cwt barrel length feet taken pound pound cannons provided broadside weight pounds equipped pound swivel guns anti personnel use swivel guns mounted fixed positions quarterdeck forecastle royal_navy service hunter brilliant commissioned october command post captain entering navy service early stages seven years war france engagement december company gun encountered french diamond contemporary report described quebec built diamond fine vessel tons carrying carriage guns cargo diamond opened fire brilliant approached british french vessel exploded sank assumed caused sparks flying guns powder magazine diamond crew survived explosion men hauled aboard brilliant prisoners war december brilliant encountered second gun dragon brief exchange fire french sailors killed wounded wounded men aboard vastly french vessel surrendered remaining crew taken prisoner following day french ship spotted snow rigged gun named short chase brought range brilliant guns french fired wounding british sailor responding broadside brilliant capsized killed men crew survivors taken prisoner aboard brilliant handed british authorities plymouth march brilliant captured french vessels gun gun april captured vessels sailed plymouth coastal raids late brilliant joined royal_navy squadron supporting amphibious raids french coastline company frigates protected fleet transports bomb vessels assisted shore bombardment september future founder aboard brilliant period produced coastal map frigate stationed overall brilliant played role engagement draught deep approach shore afternoon battle close beach crew witness surrounding defeat distant range guns french brilliant resumed hunting spring april encountered forced surrender gun french vessel miles west previous captures captured french ship crew taken plymouth handed navy authorities captain parker left brilliant having promoted gun command brilliant temporarily transferred captain frigate assigned squadron admiral coastal raid raid took place july brilliant acting protect squadron bomb vessels transport ships distance offshore subsequently replaced remained brilliant decommissioned shift brilliant focus capturing french direct engagement enemy naval squadron february force french vessels gun gun blonde gun arrived coast ireland command landed french troops captured town held town days brilliant sister ship hms port southern ireland sent north intercept force sea joined hms captain assumed overall command squadron royal_navy frigates reached dublin morning february bad weather prevented entering day embarked troops sea british vessels seeking return south france days searching royal_navy frigates encountered forces february general chase ensued brilliant gun blonde engaging battle shore isle man blonde quickly surrendered fired flagship fought royal_navy vessels crew making repeated attempts board seize ninety minutes close combat killed shot neck battered cannon fire began sink surviving crew surrendered taken prisoner brilliant anchored repair damage rigging masts sailing portsmouth prizes french suffered casualties battle men taken prisoner including soldiers crew british casualties small suffering killed wounded killed wounded brilliant escaping deaths men wounded august brilliant accompanying gun lisbon england encountered gun french ship line frigates maneuvering british french squadrons finally engaged morning august shore opened fire brilliant engaged sailing able french frigates bay unable assist surrendered ninety minutes fighting sail retreated brilliant damaged chase british losses battle numbered killed wounded killed wounded brilliant losses killed wounded historian considered probably result differences british french tactical doctrine french trained fire masts rigging enemy ship order disable british doctrine trained crews fire hull enemy ships kill crew later service small victories brilliant capture gun gun period spent portsmouth january brilliant sailed dublin assist clearing stores transporting crew gun port damaged sea later year final victory sea forcing surrender small gun war france drawing close march brought brilliant dockyard decommissioned crew paid join vessels brilliant remained offered sale surplus navy requirements purchased sir november sum vessel retained converted captain brilliant set sail merchant voyage career private hands short lived narrowly avoided disaster january struck heavily damaged anchored coast command captain seven months later august transporting troops india struck rock lost majority crew survived wreck soldiers 15th drowned including officers legacy describes brilliant best british fighting cruisers days accession navy career remained slightly inferior french speed weight ordinance ship built venus class subsequent generations royal_navy frigate preserved brilliant design extended hull allow additional gun ports carrying heavier guns including pounder cannon
HMS Brilliant (1757)