HMS Ambuscade (1746)

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

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

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 and 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 Quarter deck: 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 1-86176-295-X.