HMS Tartar (1702)

Last updated

History
English Red Ensign 1620.svg England
NameHMS Tartar
Ordered7 April 1702
Builder Woolwich Dockyard
Launched12 September 1702
CommissionedAugust 1702
Honours and
awards
Velez Malaga 1704
FateBreaking at Deptford completed 24 June 1755
General characteristics as built
Class and type32-gun fifth rate
Tons burthen420794 tons (bm)
Length
  • 108 ft 0 in (32.92 m) gundeck
  • 90 ft 9 in (27.66 m) keel for tonnage
Beam29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail plan Full-rigged ship
Complement145/110
Armament
  • as built 32 guns
  • 4/4 x demi-culverins (LD)
  • 22/20 x 6-pdr guns (UD)
  • 6/4 x 4-pdr guns (QD)
General characteristics 1733 establishment
Class and type20-gun sixth rate
Tons burthen4302594 tons (bm)
Length
  • 106 ft 0 in (32.31 m) gundeck
  • 86 ft 11.5 in (26.50 m) keel for tonnage
Beam30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
Depth of hold9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail plan Full-rigged ship
Armament
  • 1733 establishment 20 guns
  • 20 x 9-pdr guns (UD)

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.

Contents

She was the first vessel to carry this name in the English and Royal Navy. [1]

She was awarded the battle honour Velez Malaga 1704. [2]

Construction and specifications

She was ordered on 7 April 1702 to be built at Woolwich Dockyard under the guidance of Master Shipwright Fisher Harding. Her name was established on 7 September and she was launched on 12 September 1702. Her dimensions were a gundeck of 108 feet 0 inches (32.92 metres) with a keel of 90 feet 9 inches (27.66 metres) for tonnage calculation with a breadth of 29 feet 6 inches (8.99 metres) and a depth of hold of 13 feet 0 inches (3.96 metres). Her builder's measure tonnage was calculated as 420794 tons (burthen). [3]

The gun armament initially was four demi-culverins [4] [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 [5] [Note 2] with ten or eleven guns per side. The gun battery would be completed by four 4-pounder guns [6] [Note 3] on the quarterdeck (QD) with two to three guns per side. [7]

Commissioned service

Service 1702–1733

She was commissioned in August 1702 under the command of Captain Richard Canning. In 1703 she was under Captain John Cooper assigned to Sir George Rooke's Fleet bound for the Mediterranean. She took the privateer La Bonne-Union on 3 August 1704. She was at the Battle of Velez Malaga [2] on 13 August 1704 and suffered no casualties. [8] Following the battle she came under Captain Thomas Legge. She served in Vice-Admiral Sir John Leake's Squadron over the winter of 1704–05. During January 1705 Captain George Fisher was appointed her commander for service in the West Indies. With the death of Fisher on 18 August 1705, Captain Richard Leake took command. She captured in concert with Adventure the French 36-gun Les Jeux [Note 4] in the North Sea on 7 June 1706. [9] Later during 1707 she was under Captain Edward St Lo. Around May 1708 Captain Chaloner Ogle was her commander assigned to Admiral Sir George Byng's fleet in the North Sea. In September she was sailing with Captain Mighell's squadron. She captured the privateer L'Entreprenant on 3 November 1708. She escorted convoys to Newfoundland during 1709–10. During 1711–12 she was again in the Mediterranean. [3]

She was fitted at Deptford between March 1713 and July 1714 at a cost of £2,902.1.10.75d (accounting for inflation £446,300). She was under Captain Christopher Parker off the west coast of Scotland in 1715. During 1717–19 she patrolled off Sale, Morocco. Upon returning home, she was fitted at Deptford for £5,147.10.5.25d (accounting for inflation £846,900) from September 1720 to January 1721, then was placed in Ordinary. She was fitted at Deptford for service in Virginia at a cost of £1,391.15.4d (accounting for inflation £220,400). In 1725 Captain Vincent Pearce took command for service at Virginia, returning in 1728. Upon her return she was fitted at Deptford for £2,434.5.6d (accounting for inflation £385,700) in November 1728. In 1729 she was fitted and rerated as a 20-gun sixth rate. In 1728 Captain George Proctor assumed command for service at Jamaica. She returned and was paid off on 7 June 1732. She was dismantled at Deptford in May 1733 with the intent of rebuilding. [3]

Rebuild at Deptford Dockyard 1733–34

She was ordered on 19 April 1733 to be rebuilt under the 1733 establishment as a 20-gun sixth rate at Deptford Dockyard under the guidance of Master Shipwright Richard Stacey. Her keel was laid on 23 August 1733 and launched on 28 March 1734. Her dimensions were a gundeck of 106 feet 0 inches (32.31 metres) with a keel of 86 feet 11.5 inches (26.50 metres) for tonnage calculation with a breadth of 30 feet 6 inches (9.30 metres) and a depth of hold of 9 feet 5 inches (2.87 metres). Her builder's measure tonnage was calculated as 4302594 tons (burthen). [10] Her gun armament was in accordance with the 1733 Establishment for a 20-gun sixth rate consisting of twenty 9-pounder guns on the upper Deck (UD). [11] She was completed for sea on 2 May 1734 at an initial cost of £5,612.11.3d (accounting for inflation £964,100) including fitting. [10]

Service 1734–1755

HMS Tartar was commissioned in 1734 under the command of Captain Matthew Norris for service at New York. She returned to Home Waters and was paid off on 6 November 1736. She underwent a middling repair and fitting at Portsmouth at a cost of 2,900.12.9d (accounting for inflation £493,300) between November 1738 and March 1739. She was recommissioned in January 1739 under Captain George Townsend for service at South Carolina.

A View of the Town and Castle of St. Augustine, and the English Camp before it June 20, 1740, Tartar shown. The Gentleman's Magazine, 1740 A View of the Town and Castle of St. Augustine, and the English Camp before it June 20, 1740 - The Gentleman's Magazine, 1740.jpg
A View of the Town and Castle of St. Augustine, and the English Camp before it June 20, 1740, Tartar shown. The Gentleman's Magazine, 1740

She was involved in the Georgia operation in April to June 1740. She captured the privateer Virgin del Rosario on 4 August 1741. Around December 1741 Captain Thomas Lake was appointed Commander. She was patrolling in the Western Approaches in February the moving to the Orkney Islands in July 1742. She capture the privateer Nuestra Senora del Carmino on 17 April 1742. She was refitted at Portsmouth for £2,882.14.6d (accounting for inflation £478,800) in September/October 1742. She then was refitted at Sheerness for £2,500.8.4d (accounting for inflation £443,000) between July and September 1743. [10]

In 1744 she was under the command of Captain Henry Ward for service at South Carolina. She captured the privateer San Francisco Xavier on 6 May 1746. Upon her return to Home Waters, she uderwent a great repair and fitting at Deptford at a cost of £6,329.17.1d (accounting for inflation £1,121,200) between January and September 1747. HMS Tartar was recommissioned in July 1747 under the command of Captain William Brett, then sailed for the East Indies to convey the terms of the peace treaty that ended the Austrian War of Succession. She remained in the East Indies until 1751 when she returned to Home Waters to pay off in May 1752. [10]

Disposition

She was surveyed om 5 August 1752 with a repair recommended but was not carried out. She was placed in Ordinary. She was surveyed again in September 1755. By Admiralty Order (AO) 14 April 1755 she was ordered to be broken. Her breaking was completed at Deptford Dockyard on 24 June 1755. [10]

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-ponder 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 pound powder charge.
  4. incorporated into Royal Navy as Child's Play

Citations

  1. Colledge (2020)
  2. 1 2 Thomas (1998), Battles and Campaign honours, Section V, Velez Malaga
  3. 1 2 3 Winfred (2009), Ch 5, The Fifth Rates, Vessels acquired from 16 December 1688, Fifth Rates of 32 and 36 guns, Tartar Group, Tartar
  4. Lavery (1989), Part V, Ch 18, demi-culverins, page 101
  5. Lavery (1989), Part V, Ch 18, The 6-pounder, page 102
  6. Lavery (1989), Part V, Ch 18, Minion or 4-pounder, page 103
  7. Winfred 2009, Ch 5, The Fifth Rates, Vessels acquired from 16 December 1688, Fifth Rates of 32 and 36 guns, Tartar Group
  8. Clowes (1898), Chapter XXIII, page 399
  9. Clowes (1898), Chapter XXIV, page 510
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Winfred (2007), Ch 6, The Sixth Rates, Post Ships of 20 to 24 guns, Vessels acquired from 1 August 1714, 1733 Establishment - first batch, Tartar
  11. Winfred (2007), Ch 6, The Sixth Rates, Post Ships of 20 to 24 guns, Vessels acquired from 1 August 1714, 1733 Establishment - first batch

Related Research Articles

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

HMS Lenox was a 70-gun third rate built at Deptford Dockyard in 1677/78. She was in active commission for the War of English Succession fighting in the Battles of Beachy Head and Barfleur. She was rebuilt in 1699. Again in active commission for the War of Spanish Succession fighting in the Capture of Gibraltar and the Battle of Velez Malaga. She followed this with the Battle off Passero. She was rebuilt again in 1721. She was active in the War with Spain, capturing the Princesa then serving in Home Waters, the Mediterranean and finally the West Indies. She was in action off Havana in 1745. She returned home and was placed in Ordinary. She was finally sunk as a breakwater at Sheerness in 1756.

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

HMS Essex was a 70-gun third rate built by Sir Henry Johnson of Blackwall in 1678/79. During the War of the English Succession she fought in the last major action. She was rebuilt in 1699/1700. During the War of Spanish Succession she fought at Vigo Bay, the Capture of Gibraltar and Velez Malaga. She also fought at the Battle off Passero in 1718. She was rebuilt again in 1736-40. She was in action off Toulon in 1744. She was active in the Channel and against French ports during the Seven Years War. She fought at Quiberon Bay in 1759. She was wrecked in Quiberon Bay in November 1759.

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.

HMS Betty was purchased on 24 April 1695. She was previously a privateer at Bristol in British service. After commissioning she went to the West Indies on trade protection duties. She was captured by the French while returning in 1695, however was retaken in 1696 by the British. She was again commissioned in British service and served in the Mediterranean, Guinea and did surveying work off Ireland. She was sold in 1702.

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 Sorlings was a 32-gun fifth rate vessel built under contract at Shoreham in 1693/94. After commissioning she spent her time in trade protection services between Home Waters, North America, West Indies and the Mediterranean. She was captured by the French in October 1705. Incorporated into the French Navy, she was loaned to the Privateering squadron at Dunkerque then recaptured by the British in 1711 and sold.

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 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 Gosport was a 32-gun fifth rate built by William Collins of Shoreham in 1695/96. She spent her career on counter piracy patrols and trade protection duties in Home Waters, in North America and the West Indies. She was captured by the French in 1706.

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 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.

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'x'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 Fowey was a 32-gun fifth rate built at Chatham Dockyard in 1703/05. She spent her career in the Mediterranean and was taken by the French off Cape Gato, Spain in April 1709.

References