HMS Ambuscade (1746)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Ambuscade and French ship Embuscade.

HMS Ambuscade was a 40-gun fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She had formerly been the French ship Embuscade, captured in 1746.

Ambuscade (second from right) during the First Cevallos expedition
History
France
Name	Embuscade
Builder	Le Havre
Laid down	November 1744
Launched	19 March 1745
Completed	July 1745
Captured	By the Royal Navy on 21 April 1746
Great Britain
Name	HMS Ambuscade
Acquired	21 April 1746
Fate	Sold to private adventurers on 9 February 1762
General characteristics
Class & type	40-gun fifth rate frigate
Tons burthen	740 72/94 bm
Length	132 ft 6 in (40.4 m) (overall) 107 ft 5.5 in (32.8 m) (keel)
Beam	36 ft (11.0 m)
Depth of hold	10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	250
Armament	Upper deck: 26 × 12-pounders Quarterdeck: 10 × 6-pounders Forecastle: 4 × 6-pounders

Embuscade was a one-off 38-gun design by Pierre Chaillé, with 26 × 8-pounder and 12 × 4-pounder guns and was launched at Le Havre on 19 March 1745. She was captured in the English Channel by HMS Defiance on 21 April 1746.

Ambuscade fought at the First Battle of Cape Finisterre on 3 May 1747, commanded by Captain John Montagu. She captured the privateer Vainqueen on 12 July 1757, and fought with Edward Boscawen against Jean-François de La Clue-Sabran at the Battle of Lagos on 19 August 1759. She was sold at Deptford in 1762 to private adventurers.

References

• Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-86176-295-5.