HMS Portsmouth (1690)

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History
English Red Ensign 1620.svg England
NameHMS Portsmouth
Ordered28 June 1689
Builder Royal Dockyard, Portsmouth
Launched13 May 1690
Commissioned1690
Captured11 October 1696
FateCaptured by four French privateers
General characteristics
Type32-gun fifth rate
Tons burthen41192/94 bm
Length
  • 106 ft 3 in (32.4 m) gundeck
  • 89 ft 0 in (27.1 m) keel for tonnage
Beam29 ft 6 in (9.0 m)
Depth of hold10 ft 0 in (3.0 m)
Sail plan ship-rigged
Armament
  • as Built
  • 4 × 4 demi-culverines on wooden trucks (LD)
  • 20 × sakers on wooden trucks (UD)
  • 4 × 4 minions on wooden trucks (QD)

HMS Portsmouth 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, [Note 1] sakers [Note 2] and minions. [Note 3] After commissioning she spent her short career with the Fleet in Home Waters. She was taken by the French in 1696. [1]

Contents

Portsmouth was the sixth named vessel since it was used for a 46-gun ship. [2]

Construction

She was ordered on 28 June 1689 from Portsmouth Dockyard to be built under the guidance of Master Shipwright William Stigant. She was launched on 13 May 1690. [3]

Commissioned service

She was commissioned in 1690 under the command of Captain Francis Wyvill, RN for service with the Channel Fleet. In 1891 she was under the command of Captain William Whetstone, RN followed by Captain John Bridges, RN on 17 June 1691 then in 1693 Captain Charles Britiffe, RN was her commander. In concert with HMS Deptford she took the 36-gun St Malouine privateer, La Hyacinthe, in November 1693. She then joined Russel's Fleet in October/November 1694. Captain Gabriel Millerson, RN took command for service with Admiral Benbow's squadron in 1696.

Loss

HMS Portsmouth was taken by four French privateers off Romney on 11 October 1696. [4]

Notes

  1. A demi-culverine 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 sacar or saker was a gun of 1,400 pounds with a 3.5-inch bore firing a 5.5-pound shot with a 5.5-pound powder charge.
  3. A minion was a gun of 1,000 pounds with a 3.5-inch bore firing a 4-pound shot with a 4-pound powder charge.

Citations

  1. Winfield 2009
  2. Colledge
  3. Winfield 2009
  4. Winfield 2009

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References