HMS Lowestoffe (1697)

Last updated

History
English Red Ensign 1620.svg England
NameHMS Lowestoffe
Ordered24 December 1696
Builder Chatham Dockyard
Launched7 August 1697
Commissioned1699
FateSold 12 July 1744
General characteristics as built
Class and type32-gun fifth rate
Tons burthen35688⁄94 tons (bm)
Length
  • 104 ft 4 in (31.80 m) gundeck
  • 87 ft 8 in (26.72 m) keel for tonnage
Beam27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
Depth of hold10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail plan Full-rigged ship
Complement145/110
Armament
  • as built 32 guns
  • 4/4 × demi-culverins (LD)
  • 22/20 × 6-pdr guns (UD)
  • 6/4 × 4-pdr guns (QD)
General characteristics 1719 Establishment
Class and type20-gun sixth rate
Tons burthen37790⁄94 tons (bm)
Length
  • 106 ft 3 in (32.39 m) gundeck
  • 88 ft 0 in (26.82 m) keel for tonnage
Beam28 ft 5 in (8.66 m)
Depth of hold9 ft 2 in (2.79 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail plan Full-rigged ship
Armament
  • 1719 Establishment 20 guns
  • 20 × 6-pdr guns (UD)

HMS Lowestoffe was a 32-gun fifth rate built at Chatham Dockyard in 1696/97. She spent her career on counter piracy patrols and trade Protection duties. She participated in the capture of Port Royal in Nova Scotia. She was rebuilt in 1722/24 as a 20-gun sixth rate. She was sold in July 1744.

Contents

She was the first vessel to bear the name Lowestoffe or Lowestoft in the English and Royal Navy. [1]

Construction and specifications

She was ordered on 24 December 1696 to be built at Chatham Dockyard under the guidance of Master Shipwright Robert Lee. She was launched on 7 August 1697. Her dimensions were a gundeck of 104 feet 4 inches (31.80 metres) with a keel of 87 feet 8 inches (26.72 metres) for tonnage calculation with a breadth of 27 feet 8 inches (8.43 metres) and a depth of hold of 10 feet 4 inches (3.15 metres). Her builder's measure tonnage was calculated as 35688⁄94 tons (burthen). [2]

The gun armament initially was four demi-culverins [3] [Note 1] on the lower deck (LD) with two pair of guns per side. The upper deck (UD) battery would consist of between twenty and twenty-two 6-pounder guns [4] [Note 2] with ten or eleven guns per side. The gun battery would be completed by four 4-pounder guns [5] [Note 3] on the quarterdeck (QD) with two to three guns per side. [6]

Commissioned service

Service 1699-1722

HMS Lowestoffe was commissioned around 1699 under the command of Captain John Underdown. She was at the Isle of Man in 1699 and then sailed to the Baltic Sea in 1700. She sailed with the Fleet in 1701/02. Captain Rupert Billingsley was her commander sailing to Guinea on the East Coast of Africa in 1703. Captain Charles Stukely took command off the Guinea coast in July 1703. Around July 1704 Captain George Fane took over for a voyage to New York. He held command until his death on 8 April 1709 then Captain George Gordon assumed command al New York. She participated in the capture of Port Royal on the Bay of Fundy. The attack occurred on the 26th and the town capitulated on the 2nd of October 1711. Port Royal was renamed Annapolis Royal. [7] She returned Home in 1712. She underwent a middling repair at Sheerness at a cost of £102.14.8d [Note 4] from May to June 1712. Upon completion she sailed to Bermuda in 1713. In 1717 she was under Captain Sir Hugh Middleton for service in the Baltic during 1717/18. She was dismantled at Portsmouth on 17 February 1722 with the intent of rebuilding as a 20-gun sixth rate. [2]

Rebuild at Portsmouth 1722-24

She was ordered rebuilt on 13 September 1722 at Portsmouth Dockyard under the guidance of Master Shipwright John Naish. As per Admiralty Order 13 September 1723 her rebuild was change to a 20-gun sixth rate in accordance to the 1719 establishment. Her keel was laid in July 1723 and launched on 18 December 1723. Her dimensions were a gundeck of 106 feet 3 inches (32.39 metres) with a keel of 88 feet 0 inches (26.82 metres) for tonnage calculation with a breadth of 28 feet 5 inches (8.66 metres) and a depth of hold of 9 feet 2 inches (2.79 metres). Her builder's measure tonnage was calculated as 37790⁄94 tons (burthen). [8] Her gun armament was in accordance with the 1719 Establishment for a 20-gun sixth rate consisting of twenty 6-pounder guns on the upper Deck (UD) [9] She was completed for sea on 21 May 1724 at a cost of £3,362.15.8d [Note 5] to build and £2,475.9.1d [Note 6] for fitting. [8]

Service 1724-1744

She was commissioned in April 1724 under the command of Captain Matthew Norris for service at New York. She was ordered to Home Waters in 1728. She was then sent to the Mediterranean followed by a deployment to South Carolina during 1730/31. She returned Home and paid off in August 1732. She was recommissioned in January 1733 under Captain Charles Wyndham for service in the North Sea and subsequently for convoy service for Russian trade. Later Captain Charles Cotterell took command until 1735. She underwent a great repair and fitting At Deptford between June 1735 and March 1736 costing £4,915.13.3d. [Note 7] She was then recommissioned in January 1736 under Captain Charles Drummond for service in the Leeward Islands, returning to England in 1741. [8]

Disposition

She was surveyed in August 1741 and a new vessel was ordered to be built in her room under Admiralty Order (AO) 24 August 1741. She was sold by AO 16 June 1744 for £518 [Note 8] on 12 July 1744. [8]

Notes

  1. ↑ A demi-culverin was a gun of 3,400 pounds with a four-inch bore firing a 9.5-pound shot with an eight-pound powder charge
  2. ↑ A 6-pounder was a Dutch gun used to replace the saker
  3. ↑ A minion renamed the 4-pounder was a gun of 1,000 pounds with a 3.5-inch bore firing a 4-pound shot with a 4-pound powder charge.
  4. ↑ A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £19,300 in today's money
  5. ↑ A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £662,400 in today's money
  6. ↑ A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £487,800 in today's money
  7. ↑ A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £968,400 in today's money
  8. ↑ A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £111,400 in today's money

Citations

  1. ↑ Colledge (2020)
  2. 1 2 Winfred 2009, Ch 5, The Fifth Rates, Vessels acquired from 16 December 1688, Fifth Rates of 32 and 36 guns, 1694 Programme, Lowestoffe
  3. ↑ Lavery (1989), Part V, Ch 18, culverins, page 101
  4. ↑ Lavery (1989), Part V, Ch 18, The 6-pounder, page 102
  5. ↑ Lavery (1989), Part V, Ch 18, Minion or 4-pounder, page 103
  6. ↑ Winfred 2009, Ch 5, The Fifth Rates, Vessels acquired from 16 December 1688, Fifth Rates of 32 and 36 guns, 1694 Programme
  7. ↑ Clowes (1898), Chapter XXIV, page 526-527
  8. 1 2 3 4 Winfield (2007), Ch 6, The Sixth Rates, Vessels acquired from 1 August 1714, 1719 Establishment, Lowestoffe
  9. ↑ Winfield (2007), Ch 6, The Sixth Rates, Vessels acquired from 1 August 1714, 1719 Establishment

Related Research Articles

HMS <i>Assurance</i> (1646)

HMS Assurance was a 32-gun fourth-rate of the English Navy, built by Peter Pett I at Deptford Dockyard and launched in 1646. She was in the Parliamentary force during the English Civil War, then the Commonwealth Navy and was incorporated into the Royal Navy after the Restoration in 1660. During her time in the Commonwealth Navy she partook in the Battles of Dover, Portland, Gabbard and Texel. She foundered in a gale at Woolwich in 1660 and was salved. After the Restoration she partook in the Battle of Lowestoffe, the Four Days Fight and the Texel (1673). She was reduced to a Fifth Rate in 1690 before being sold in 1698.

HMS <i>Adventure</i> (1646) Ship of the line of the Royal Navy

HMS Adventure was a 34-gun fourth-rate of the English Navy, built by Peter Pett II at Woolwich Dockyard and launched in 1646. With the outbreak of the English Civil War she served on the Parliamentary side until 1649. She was incorporated into the Commonwealth Navy in 1650. She partook in the Battle off Dover in 1652, the Battle of Portland and the Battle of Gabbard in 1653. Adventure was employed on Bulstrode Whitelocke's embassy to Sweden, 1653–1654. After the Restoration she was incorporated into the Royal Navy. She was present at the Battle of Lowestoft (1665) and the Battle of Solebay (1672). She also participated in the Golden Horse and Two Lions actions in 1681. She was in the Battle of Barfleur in 1692. She captured several ships in the later part of her career, before being captured by the French in 1709.

HMS Assistance was one of six 40-gun fourth-rate frigates, built for the Commonwealth of England under the 1650 Programme, after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 she was incorporated into the navy of the Kingdom of England. During her time in the Commonwealth Navy she partook in the First Anglo-Dutch war being present in the battles of Kentish Knock, Portland and The Gabbard. In the Mediterranean she was present at the Battle of Santa Cruz and the bombardment of Porto Farina, In the Second Anglo-Dutch War she was involved in the Battle of Lowestoft, Battle of Vagen and the St James Day Fight. She did not participate in fleet actions after this. She spent the rest of her service life undergoing several rebuilds and plying the waters as a cruiser protecting British trade and projecting British sovereignty. After nearly 95 years of Service she was sunk as a break water at Sheerness at the end of 1745.

HMS <i>Captain</i> (1678) Ship of the line of the Royal Navy

HMS Captain was a 70-gun third rate built at Woolwich Dockyard in 1677/78. After sitting in Ordinary for ten years she was in active commission for the War of the English Succession fighting at Beachy Head and Barfleur. She was in Ordinary until 1706 when she was rebuilt. She was in active commission for the last half of the War of Spanish Succession but fought in no major engagements. She was at the Battle of Passero I 1718. She was rebuilt in 1720/22. She made two forays in to the Baltic though the bulk of her late career was spent as guardship at Portsmouth. She was hulked in 1740 and finally broken in 1762.

HMS <i>Expedition</i> (1679) Ship of the line of the Royal Navy

HMS Expedition was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line built at Portsmouth Dockyard in 1677/79. She was in active commission during the War of the English Succession participating in the battles of Beachy Head and Barfleur. She was rebuilt in 1699. Again, for the War of Spanish Succession she was in commission for the operation at Cadiz then returned to England where she sat for two years. She was in the Mediterranean for the Battle of Marbella in 1705. She then went to the West Indies and fought in Wager's action off Cartagena in 1708. She was rebuilt in 1709-14 to the 1706 Establishment. She spent her time split between the Baltic and as guard ship at Portsmouth before being broken at Portsmouth in 1736. She was rebuilt in 1736/40 at Deptford Dockyard.

HMS Southsea Castle was a 32-gun fifth rate built at Deptford Dockyard in 1694/95. She was assigned to the West Indies. She was wrecked along with HMS Bideford on Hispaniola in November 1699.

The 1693 Programme of fifth rates were derived from the 1689 programme vessels as demi-batterie ships. The concept was to have one tier of ordnance flush on the upper deck for use in all weathers on a freeboard of at least seven feet. The ordnance would be arranged with a minimum of ten gun ports on the upper deck. The lower deck would be provided with four ports for heavier guns that could only be used in calm weather. For added propulsion ten oar ports per side would be provided with a central loading port. Four 32-gun vessels to these specifications were ordered in early 1693 with three to be built by Contract and one in dockyard.

HMS Shoreham was a 32-gun fifth rate vessel built under contract at Shoreham in 1693/94. During the War of the English Succession she was involved in the unsuccessful operation at Camaret Bay. At the end of the war she helped take half a French convoy off Ireland. She then deployed to North America and the West Indies. She was rebuilt as a 20-gun sixth rate to the 1719 Establishment in 1719/21. She served in the Baltic as a bomb vessel then reverted to a sixth rate. She participated in operations in the West Indies during the initial years of the War of Austrian Succession before being sold in 1744.

HMS Scarborough was a 32-gun fifth rate vessel built at Woolwich Dockyard in 1693/94. Shortly after commissioning she was taken by two French privateers and went under French service. She was recaptured in 1697 and renamed Milford. She spent some time off Africa then the West Indies. She was rebuilt in 1705. She was in the North Sea, the Mediterranean and finally the West Indies where she was wrecked in 1720.

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.

HMS Rye was a 32-gun fifth rate built at Sheerness Dockyard in 1694/96.

HMS Scarborough was a 32-gun fifth rate built under contract by James Parker of Southampton in 1695/96. She served in the trade protection and counter-piracy operations during her service. She was captured by the French, then recaptured by the British and renamed Garland, She was converted to a fireship for the Baltic then the Mediterranean. She was at the Battle of Passero in 1718. She was reduced to a 20-gun sixth rate in 1717. Rebuilt to the 1719 Establishment in 1721, she was finally sold in 1744.

HMS Looe was a 32-gun fifth rate built at Plymouth Dockyard in 1695/96. Shortly after commissioning she was wrecked in Baltimore Bay, Ireland on 30 April 1697.

HMS Lynn was a 32-gun fifth rate built under contract by Thomas Ellis of Shoreham in 1695/96. She spent her entire career on trade protection and anti-piracy patrols. Her service was in Home Waters North America, the West Indies and the East Indies. She was sold in 1713.

HMS Fowey was a 32-gun fifth rate built by Mr. Flint of Plymouth in 1695/96. She was employed in trade protection and counter-piracy patrols in Home Waters and North America. She was in on the capture of a 50-gun Frenchman while returning from Virginia. She was taken by the French off the Scilly Islands in August 1704.

HMS Poole was a 32-gun fifth rate built by Joseph Nye & George Moore of East Cowes on the Isle of Wight in 1695/96. She spent the first part of her career on trade protection and counter piracy patrols. After 1719 she was converted to a fireship. She was finally sunk as a breakwater at Harwich in July 1737.

HMS Bridgewater was a 32-gun fifth rate built at Sheerness Dockyard in 1697/98.

With the ascension of Queen Anne to the throne of England, these would be the first vessels associated to her reign. The vessels would be similar to the previous 1694 programme with one exception. The upper deck battery would be fully enclosed with a deck running from the foc's'le to the quarterdeck. This would protect the gunners and battery during an action with the enemy. In 1702 one vessel was ordered from dockyard. In 1703 two more were ordered from dockyard.

HMS Falcon was a 32-gun fifth rate built at Deptford Dockyard in 1703/04. Her initial assignment was with Sir Cloudesley Shovell's Fleet. She was then assigned to the Mediterranean where she was taken by the French in 1709.

HMS Tartar was a 32-gun fifth rate built by the Woolwich Dockyard in 1702. Her initial commissioning was in time for the War of the Spanish Succession. She partook in the Battle of Velez Malaga in 1704. She spent the rest of her career on counter piracy and trade protection patrols. She was rebuilt as a 20-gun sixth rate in 1733. She was finally broken in 1755.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.