HMS Deal Castle (1706)

Last updated

History
Naval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg Great Britain
NameHMS Deal Castle
BuilderRichard Burchett, Rotherhithe
Launched9 September 1706
Acquired2 August 1706
Commissioned1707
Out of service12 December 1722
ReinstatedMay 1727
FateBroken at Deptford 14 August 1746
General characteristics
Type20-gun Sixth Rate
Tons burthen272+1894 bm
Length
  • 98 ft 2 in (29.9 m) gundeck
  • 74 ft 6 in (22.7 m) keel for tonnage
Beam26 ft 2.5 in (8.0 m) for tonnage
Depth of hold11 ft 0 in (3.4 m)
Sail plan ship-rigged
Armament
  • 20 x 6-pdrs on upper deck
  • 4 x 4-pdrs guns on quarterdeck
General characteristics As Rebuilt 1727
Class and type20=gun, Sixth Rate
Tons burthen3755/94 bm
Length
  • 106 ft 1 in (32.33 m) gundeck
  • 87 ft 10 in (26.77 m) keel for tonnage
Beam28 ft 4 in (8.64 m) maximum
Depth of hold9 ft 2 in (2.79 m)
Sail plan ship-rigged
Armament20 x 6-pdrs on upper deck

HMS Deal Castle was a 24-gun sixth-rate ship of the Royal Navy, purchased in 1706 and in service in West Indies, North America and English waters until 1727 when she was rebuilt at Sheerness. She commissioned after her rebuild in May 1727 and served in Home waters, North America and the West Indies. She was finally broken at Deptford in August 1746. [1] [2]

Contents

Deal Castle was the second named ship since it was used for a 24-gun sixth rate launched at Deptford Dockyard on 6 November 1697 and taken by the French off Dunkirk on 3 July 1706. [3]

Specifications and construction

Initially intended for merchant service, the vessel was purchased for Naval use while still under construction at Richard Burchett of Rotherhithe on 2 August 1706. [4] She was launched on 9 September 1706. [5] Her gundeck was 98 feet 2 inches (29.9 metres) with her keel 74 feet 6 inches (22.7 metres) reported for tonnage. Her breadth was 26 feet 2.5 inches (8.0 metres). Her depth of hold was 11 feet 0 inches (3.4 metres). Her builder's Measure tonnage was 27218/94 tons. She carried a standardize armament of twenty 6-pounders on the upper deck (UD) and four 4-pounders on the quarterdeck. She was a full rigged ship. [6] [7]

Commissioned service

She was commissioned in 1707 under the command of Commander Charles Howard, RN for the West Indies. In August 1707 after Commander Howard had drowned, Commander Henry Blimstone, RN took command in the West Indies. In 1709 Commander John Codner, RN took command for service in the North Sea and English Channel and later to Jamaica. He was promoted to captain in January 1713, but died on 23 April 1714. In April 1714 Commander (promoted Captain September 1714) Francis Willis, RN prepared for service on the Scottish Coast at Leigh. In 1717 she went to Newfoundland. [8]

Rebuild at Sheerness 1727

She was docked at Sheerness for dismantling and preparation for rebuilding as a 375 ton (builder's measure) 20 gun sixth rate [9] in accordance with the 1719 Establishment specifications [10] [11] under the guidance of the Master Shipwright of Sheerness, John Ward. [12] Her rebuild was ordered on 3 January 1723 and launched (floated out of dock) on 6 April 1727. Her new dimensions were now gundeck 106 feet 1 inch (32.3 metres) with her keel 87 feet 10 inches (26.8 metres) reported for tonnage. Her breadth was 28 feet 4 inches (8.6 metres). Her depth of hold was 9 feet 2 inches (2.8 metres). Her builder's Measure tonnage was 3755/94 tons. She carried a standardize armament of twenty 6-pounders on the upper deck (UD). She was a full rigged ship. [13] Her rebuild was completed on 16 June 1727 at a cost of £3,716.0.11/2. [Note 1]

Commissioned service after rebuild

She was commissioned in May 1727 under Captain Timothy Brett, RN for service in Home Waters. In 1728 she was under command of Captain Samuel Mead, RN. She was paid off in November 1731 and recommissioned around the same time under the command of Captain David Aubin, RN. In March 1734 she was under command of Captain Robert Shorting, RN who died on 8 August 1734 and Captain William Knight assumed command to bring the ship back to Home Waters paying off in August 1735. [14] She underwent a refit from March to July 1738 at a cost of £4,033.19.9d [Note 2] at Deptford on 14 August 1746. [15] She was recommissioned in June 1738 under the command of Captain Temple West, RN for service in Home Waters. In October 1739 she went to Halifax, Nova Scotia then off Tagus in 1740. February 1741 she came under command of Captain John Hamilton, RN and he sailed with the Lisbon convoy in May 1741. In December 1741 Captain Jacon Elton, RN took command for service in the Western Approaches. She was at Vigo with HMS Looe in on 7 July 1742. Captain Samuel Goddard, RN took command in February 1743 for service in the West Indies. She captured the privateer, Le Bien Aime on 23 February 1744. [16] By September 1744 she was under the command of Captain Thomas Somers, RN. She took the privateers, La Fidele and La Providence on 16 May 1645. She returned to Home Waters and paid off in December 1745. [17]

Disposition

She was surveyed then sold for £191 [Note 3] at Deptford on 14 August 1746. [18] [19]

Notes

  1. A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £534,700 in today's money.
  2. A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £800 in today's money.
  3. A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £31,600 in today's money.

Citations

  1. Winfield 2009
  2. Winfield 2007
  3. Colledge
  4. Winfield 2009
  5. Winfield 2007
  6. Winfield 2009
  7. Winfield 2007
  8. Winfield 2007
  9. Colledge
  10. Winfield 2009
  11. Winfield 2007
  12. Winfield 2007
  13. Winfield 2007
  14. Winfield 2007
  15. Winfield 2007
  16. Winfield 2007
  17. Winfield 2007
  18. Winfield 2007
  19. Colledge

Related Research Articles

HMS Phoenix was built as a fireship as part of the 1693-94 programme of Fireships. After her commissioning she spent time in the English Channel then joined the Fleet for the Battle of Vigo Bay followed by the Battle of Velez-Malaga. She went aground in the Scillies Island and was salved. While laid up at Plymouth in 1708 was rebuilt as a 24-gun sixth rate. After recommissioning she spent her time in Home Waters, North America and the West Indies. She was rebuilt again in 1727 before finally being sold in 1744.

HMS Aldborough was a 24-gun sixth-rate ship of the Royal Navy, purchased in 1706 and in service in Mediterranean and English waters until 1727 when she was rebuilt as a 374 ton sixth rate in accordance with the 1719 Establishment for Sixth Rates. After the rebuild she spent her career in the West Indies, Home Waters and the Mediterranean. She was finally broken at Deptford on 31 March 1742.

HMS Greyhound was built by Anthony Deane after his transfer to Portsmouth Dockyard as the Master Shipwright. She was a state-of-the-art small frigate which may have served as a forerunner for the standard 20-gun Sixth Rates of the 1690s. She was a standard 16-gun vessel. Her name was chosen to reflect her fine lines as a trade protection vessel. She was commissioned in July 1672 for fisheries protection, transported troops to Tangiers in 1681 and spent most of her career in the Irish Sea, including operations around Londonderry, she patrolled the North Sea and Channel with her final service with the Fleet. She was sold in 1698.

HMS Saudadoes was built by Anthony Deane after his transfer to Portsmouth Dockyard as the Master Shipwright. She was a smaller version of the Greyhound design. Initially she was a 8/6-gun sixth rate vessel. She was rebuilt in 1673 as a standard 16-gun vessel. She was commissioned in November 1669 then taken in hand at Deptford for her rebuild. She spent the majority of her career in Home Waters, participating in the Battle of Bantry Bay and the Battle of Barfleur. She went to the Mediterranean for a year in 1694. Her final service was in the Channel where she was captured by two French privateers and burnt in February 1696.

HMS Seaford was a member of the standardize 20-gun sixth rates built at the end of the 17th Century. After she was commissioned she had a very varied career, starting in the Mediterranean then the Irish Sea, then to Newfoundland, the North Sea followed by a great repair then to the Leeward Islands. Her was dismantled in 1722 and rebuilt as a bomb vessel in 1727 than a 20-gun sixth rate in 1728. She served in the West Indies, America and the Mediterranean. She was finally broken in 1740.

HMS Nightingale was a development of the standardize 20-gun sixth rates and were built at the beginning of the 18th Century. After she was captured by French privateer galleys in 1707 then recaptured four months later. She was renamed HMS Fox and continued service until she was rebuilt at Deptford. Her breaking was completed in January 1738.

HMS Valeur was a 24-gun French sixth rate named Le Valeur take by HMS Worcester on 2 April 1705 in the Channel. She was purchased at Plymouth by Admiralty Order (AO) 30 May 1705 for £405. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1705 for service in the Mediterranean. From 1706 thru 1708 she was with Admiral Byng's squadron. In Newfoundland, she was taken by the French, then retaken by the British. She spent time in the Irish Sea then was converted to a fireship and then converted back to a sixth rate. she was finally broken at in 1718.

HMS Child's Play was a 24-gun French privateer, Le Jeux of St Malo taken by HMS Tartar on 7 June 1706. She was purchased on 6 July 1706. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 10 July 1706 for service in the West Indies. She was wrecked in a hurricane in 1707.

HMS Nightingale was a 24-gun sixth-rate ship of the Royal Navy, purchased in 1706 and in service in North America and English waters until 1716.

HMS Squirrel was designed by Richard Stacey, Master Shipwright of Woolwich. Her design was based on the standardize 20-gun sixth rates. After commissioning she was assigned to Home Waters then the Mediterranean. She took a privateer in 1710. She was dismantled at Deptford with her timbers sent to Woolwich Dockyard for rebuilding as a 374-ton (bm). She was finally broken in 1749.

HMS Glasgow was the Royal Scottish Naval vessel Royal Mary transferred to the Royal Navy by the Act of Union of 1707. Her design was based on the standardize 20-gun sixth rates. After commissioning she was assigned to Home Waters. She took a privateer in 1708 and another in 1712. She was sold in 1719.

HMS Gibraltar was a member of the Gibraltar Group of 24-gun sixth rates. After commissioning she spent her career in Home waters and North America on trade protection duties. She was rebuilt at Deptford between 1725 and 1727. After her rebuild she served in Home Waters, North America, West Indies and the Mediterranean on trade protection. She was sold in 1749.

HMS Seahorse was a member of the Gibraltar Group of 24-gun sixth rates. After commissioning she spent her career in Home waters and North America on trade protection duties. She was rebuilt at Deptford between 1725 and 1727. After her rebuild she served in Home Waters, North America, West Indies and the Mediterranean on trade protection. She was sold in 1749.

HMS Rose was a member of the Gibraltar Group of 24-gun sixth rates. After commissioning she spent her career in Home waters and North America on trade protection duties. She was rebuilt at Woolwich between 1722 and 1724. After her rebuild she served in Home Waters, North America, West Indies and the Mediterranean on trade protection. She was sold in 1744.

HMS Bideford was a member of the Gibraltar Group of 24-gun sixth rates. After commissioning she spent her career West Indies, Morocco and Portugal on trade protection duties. She was rebuilt at Chatham in 1727. After her rebuild she served in Home Waters, North America and the Mediterranean on trade protection. She foundered off Flamborough Head in 1736.

HMS Experiment was a fifth rate built under the 1689 programme built at Deptford Dockyard. Her guns were listed under old terms for guns as demi-culverines, sakers and minions. After commissioning she spent her career in Home Waters, North America, Mediterranean and the West Indies. She was reduced to a 20-gun sixth rate in 1717 then rebuilt as a 1719 Establishment sixth rate in 1724. Her breaking was finally completed at Portsmouth in 1738.

HMS Sheerness was a fifth rate built under the 1689 programme built at Sheerness Dockyard. Her guns were listed under old terms for guns as demi-culverines, sakers and minions. After commissioning she spent her career in Home Waters, North America, Mediterranean and the West Indies. She was reduced to a 20-gun sixth rate in 1717 then rebuilt as a Modified 1719 Establishment sixth rate in 1731. She was sold in 1744.

HMS Speedwell was a fireship of the 1689 Programme built under contract. She would be rebuilt and rerated several times from a fireship to a 24-gun Fifth rate then reduced to a 20-gun sixth rate and finally a bomb ketch. She was at the Battle of Barfleur in 1692 and had an attempted mutiny in 1699. After her first rebuild she was employed in the Irish Sea capturing four privateers and recapturing a sloop. She was wrecked on the Dutch coast in 1720.

HMS Mermaid was a 28-gun fifth rate built under the 1651 programme. She was built under contract at Limehouse. After commissioning she spent her early career with Robert Blake's Fleet in action off Dover, the Gabbard and in the Mediterranean. After the restoration she served mainly in Home Waters. After her first rebuild she served in Home Waters, North America, Mediterranean and the West Indies. After her second rebuild she served in Home Waters and the West Indies. Her breaking was completed at Deptford on 26 June 1734

HMS Lyme was a 32-gun fifth rate built by Mr. Flint of Plymouth in 1694/95. She spent her career on counter piracy patrols and trade protection duties in Home Waters, the Mediterranean and in North America and the West Indies. She was rebuilt to the 1719 Establishment as a sixth rate in 1720/21. Her breaking was completed in January 1739.

References