Rattlesnake Instr. Manual - Nature Coast Hobby Shop
Rattlesnake Instr. Manual - Nature Coast Hobby Shop
Rattlesnake Instr. Manual - Nature Coast Hobby Shop
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Brief History<br />
It was supposedly in 1781 that <strong>Rattlesnake</strong> was<br />
built as a privateer at Plymouth, Massachusetts<br />
for a Salem syndicate; John Andrews, and others.<br />
The Preble Papers in the Massachusetts<br />
Historical Society indicate that the designer and<br />
builder was John Peck of Boston. She was first<br />
commissioned on June 12, 1781 with Master<br />
Mark Clark at the helm. This, however, is early<br />
in the year. Consequently, there is some question<br />
about the actual building date. The ship<br />
could have been under construction in 1780 or<br />
earlier.<br />
During 1781, at a time when privateering was<br />
losing its luster, British frigates still lay off the<br />
coasts of noteworthy American colonial towns,<br />
keeping tabs on shipbuilding departures, and<br />
raiding shipping centers. It was along these<br />
routes that <strong>Rattlesnake</strong> met her fate when she was<br />
captured by British 44-gun H.M.S. Assurance.<br />
<strong>Rattlesnake</strong> was sent to England where she was<br />
taken into the Royal Navy and renamed Cormorant.<br />
Her hull lines were taken at the Plymouth<br />
Dockyard in 1782. In 1783, when the<br />
Admiralty found out they already had a ship<br />
named Cormorant, the ship was again named<br />
<strong>Rattlesnake</strong>. In 1784 or 1786, she was sold out of<br />
Naval service. Beyond that her history is not<br />
clear. One source says she was used by the<br />
French as a privateer and named Le Tonnant,<br />
but this is not confirmed by any authority.<br />
Despite her moderate size, <strong>Rattlesnake</strong> was shiprigged<br />
and impressive in appearance and feature<br />
beyond her broadside strength. The ship was 89'<br />
3" long on deck, with a molded beam of 22', a<br />
mean draft of 8' 1-1/2", and 198-70/94th tons<br />
burthen. Her molded displacement was 221.3<br />
long tons. Along with 85 men, she carried twenty<br />
6-pounders only, a psychological ploy no doubt,<br />
but her lines reveal a fast and weatherly ship.<br />
More History<br />
For a fascinating history and technical discussion<br />
of privateering ships, and more detail on<br />
the <strong>Rattlesnake</strong>, refer to The History of American<br />
Sailing Ships and The Search for Speed Under Sail<br />
listed in the bibliography.<br />
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