▁gun ports ▁and ▁two ▁bow ▁ch as ers , ▁although ▁in ▁practice ▁she ▁carried ▁only ▁six teen ▁can n ons ▁with ▁the ▁remaining ▁ports ▁left ▁un used . ▁Despite ▁this , ▁at ▁the ▁time ▁of ▁her ▁launch ▁she ▁was ▁the ▁most ▁heavily ▁armed ▁s loop ▁in ▁the ▁Navy . ▁Her ▁designated ▁complement ▁was ▁ 1 1 0 ▁officers ▁and ▁ratings ▁from ▁ 1 7 4 5 ▁to ▁ 1 7 4 9 , ▁rising ▁to ▁ 1 2 5 ▁there after . ▁ ▁Navy ▁service ▁ ▁European ▁waters ▁ ▁We az el ▁was ▁launched ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁May ▁ 1 7 4 5 ▁and ▁sa iled ▁to ▁De pt ford ▁D ock yard ▁for ▁fit out ▁and ▁to ▁take ▁on ▁arm ament ▁and ▁crew . ▁She ▁was ▁formally ▁commission ed ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁June ▁under ▁Commander ▁Thomas ▁Cra ven , ▁entering ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁service ▁at ▁the ▁height ▁of ▁the ▁War ▁of ▁Aust rian ▁Su cc ession ▁which ▁p itted ▁coal itions ▁broad ly ▁compr ising ▁France , ▁Pr uss ia ▁and ▁Spain , ▁against ▁Britain , ▁the ▁H abs burg ▁Mon archy ▁and ▁the ▁Dutch ▁Republic . ▁Cra ven ' s ▁orders ▁were ▁to ▁take ▁We az el ▁into ▁the ▁English ▁Channel ▁and ▁the ▁Down s ▁to ▁pat rol ▁for ▁enemy ▁private ers . ▁The ▁new - built ▁s loop ▁was ▁swift ly ▁in ▁action , ▁capt uring ▁the ▁private er ▁Le ▁Ren ard ▁in ▁the ▁Channel ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁November . ▁In ▁February ▁ 1 7 4 6 ▁Cra