HMS Swiftsure (1804)

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'Swiftsure' (1804); 'Victorious' (1808) RMG J3263.png
Swiftsure
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
NameHMS Swiftsure
Ordered1800
Builder Henry Adams, Bucklers Hard
Laid downFebruary 1802
Launched23 July 1804
Honours and
awards
FateSold out of the service, 1845
NotesReceiving ship from 1819
General characteristics [1]
Class & type Swiftsure class ship of the line
Tons burthen1724 (bm)
Length173 ft (53 m) (gundeck)
Beam47 ft 6 in (14.48 m)
Depth of hold20 ft 9 in (6.32 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail plan Full-rigged ship
Armament
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounder guns
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18-pounder guns
  • QD: 14 × 9-pounder guns
  • Fc: 4 × 9-pounder guns

HMS Swiftsure was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched from Bucklers Hard on 23 July 1804. [1]

Contents

She fought at Trafalgar. Coincidentally the French 74-gun ship Swiftsure also took part in the battle; she had originally been a British ship that the French had captured in 1801.

HMS Forward departed Spithead anchorage on 2 December 1814 and arrived at Port Royal on 11 February 1815, having been part of a larger convoy with Swiftsure as its flagship. [2]

This Swiftsure became a receiving ship in 1819, [1] In September 1844, she heeled over and sank at Portchester, Hampshire. [3] In November 1844, she was in use as a target ship by HMS Excellent. [4] She was sold out of the service in 1845. [1]

Barker family memorial in St Peter's Church, Edensor with reference to HMS Swiftsure and Trafalgar St Peter's Church, Edensor - Barker family memorial.JPG
Barker family memorial in St Peter's Church, Edensor with reference to HMS Swiftsure and Trafalgar

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 185.
  2. "Shipping Intelligence" . Royal Gazette of Jamaica. 11 February 1815. p. 19. Retrieved 5 March 2020 via British Newspaper Archive. A fleet of about 230 sail, under convoy of the Swiftsure of 74 guns, Capt. Adderley... and the Forward brig, of 14 guns, Capt Banks [set sail from the Solent on 2 December 1814]... On the 1st inst. the fleet arrived off Barbados... The Forward [escorted] those [vessels destined] for this port [and arrived at Port Royal on 11 February 1815, as recorded on page 17.]
  3. "Naval Intelligence". The Times. No. 18727. London. 27 September 1844. col. C, p. 8.
  4. "Naval Intelligence". The Times. No. 18771. London. 18 November 1844. col. E, p. 7.

References