Maidstone Group

Last updated

Class overview
NameMaidstone Group
Builders
OperatorsNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byNightingale Group
Built1693–1697
In service1694–1719
Completed18
Lost11
Retired7
General characteristics
Type20-gun sixth rate
Tons burthen244+57⁄94 bm
Length
  • 93 ft 0 in (28.3 m) gundeck
  • 77 ft 8 in (23.7 m) keel for tonnage
Beam24 ft 4 in (7.4 m) for tonnage
Depth of hold10 ft 8 in (3.3 m)
Armament
  • initially as ordered
  • 20 × sakers on wooden trucks (UD)
  • 4 × 3-pdr on wooden trucks (QD)
  • 1703 Establishment
  • 20 × 6-pdrs on wooden trucks (UD)
  • 4 × 4-pdr on wooden trucks (QD)

Before 1688 no sixth rate carried more than 20 guns. At the start of the Anglo-French War in 1688 the British captured four 20 plus gunned French vessels, that were rated by the French as sixth rates. The British Admiralty submitted a requirement to the Navy Board for a 'standard' sixth rate of 20 guns on the upper deck with four smaller guns on the quarterdeck. The vessel proposed by the Navy Board had an estimated cost of £1,676.10.0d [Note 1] per ship with another £2,513 [Note 2] for materials for completion. Initially fourteen ships were ordered, Batch 1 of four vessels in July 1693, Batch 2 of eight vessels in spring 1694, Batch 3 of two vessels in March 1695 with a further four in 1696. [1] This first standardized group of sixth rates became known as the Maidstone Group.

Contents

Design and specifications

The initial order was for fourteen vessels spread over three building seasons with another four added in 1696. The construction of the vessels was evenly split between Dockyard-built vessels and contracted vessels. As with most vessels of this time period only order and launch dates are available. Each ship was built to a generalized specification with dimensional creep accruing in all vessels. The dimensional data listed here is the general specification, whereas the actual dimensions where known will be listed with each ship. The general specification called for a gundeck of 93 feet 0 inches (28.3 metres) with a keel length of 77 feet 8 inches (23.7 metres) for tonnage calculation. The breadth would be 24 feet 4 inches (7.4 metres) for tonnage with a depth of hold of 10 feet 8 inches (3.3 metres). The tonnage calculation would be 244+57⁄94. [2]

The initial gun armament would be twenty sakers mounted on wooden trucks located on the upper deck (UD) with a further four 3-pounders [Note 3] mounted on wooden trucks on the quarterdeck (QD). A saker or sacar was a muzzle-loading smoothbore gun of 1,400 pounds in weight with a 3+1⁄2-inch bore firing a 5+1⁄2-pound shot with a 5+1⁄2-pound powder charge. [3] In 1703 the armament would be established at twenty 6-pounders mounted on wooden trucks on the upper deck with four 4-pounders on the quarterdeck. [4]

Ships of the Maidstone Group

NameBuilderLaunch dateRemarks
Maidstone Chatham Dockyard31 December 1693Sold 29 July 1714
Jersey Deptford Dockyard17 January 1694
  • renamed Margate 21 October 1698
  • Wrecked 9 October 1707
Lizard Chatham Dockyard19 March 1694lost with all hands 31 May 1696
Newport Portsmouth Dockyard7 April 1694taken by French 5 July 1696
Falcon Nicholas Barret, Shoreham28 September 1694taken by French 10 June 1695, retaken in 1703 and broken
Queenborough Sheerness Dockyard22 December 1694Sold 20 August 1719
Swan Robert & John Castle, Deptford13 September 1694Lost in tropical storm 17 August 1707
Drake George Fowler, Rotherhithe26 September 1694Lost with all hands 20 December 1694
Solebay Edward Snelgrove, Redhouse13 September 1694Wrecked 25 December 1709
Seahorse John Hayden, Limehouse27 September 1694Wrecked 14 March 1703
Bideford Nicholas Barret, Harwich25 October 1695Wrecked 12 November 1699
Penzance Thomas Ellis, Shoreham22 April 1695Sold 24 September 1713
Dunwich William Collins & Robert Chatfield, Shoreham15 October 1695Sunk as breakwater at Plymouth 15 October 1714
Oxford Thomas Ellis, Shoreham29 November 1695
  • renamed Newport 3 September 1698
  • Sold 29 July 1714
Lizard (ii)Sheerness Dockyard29 March 1697Sold 29 July 1714
Flamborough Chatham Dockyard10 July 1697Taken by French 10 October 1705 and scuttled
Seaford Portsmouth Dockyard15 October 1697Broken in August 1722
Deal Castle Deptford Dockyard6 November 1697Taken by French 3 July 1706

Notes

  1. ↑ A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £256,900 in today's money per ship.
  2. ↑ A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £385,100 in today's money per ship.
  3. ↑ "3-pounder" refers to the weight of the ball fired

Citations

  1. ↑ Winfield
  2. ↑ Winfield
  3. ↑ Winfield, Source and data, Guns
  4. ↑ Winfield

Related Research Articles

HMS Enterprise was a 24-gun sixth-rate of the French Navy captured by HMS Triton on 7 May 1705. She was registered as a Royal Navy ship on 1 June 1705 and commissioned shortly afterwards. She served in the Mediterranean and with Admiral Byng's squadron at the Downs. She was wrecked in 1707 with the loss of all hands.

HMS Larke was contracted to be built by Sir Anthony Deane of Blackwall, knighted after he left Portsmouth Dockyard in 1673. She had the lines of Greyhound and was a standard 18-gun vessel. She was commissioned in June 1675 for trade protection, she patrolled the North Sea and Channel with her final service with the Fleet. She took a number of privateers during her service. She was sold on 3 May 1698.

HMS Seaford was purchased from Richard Herring of Bursledon. Richard Herring had built this vessel on speculation to a similar specification as the Maidstone Group. After she was commissioned she sailed as part of the expedition to recapture Fort York on Hudson Bay. She was also part of Symond's squadron in the West Indies where she was captured and burnt by the French in 1697.

The Nightingale sixth rates were basically repeats of the Maidstone Group. Initially two vessels were ordered, however with one lost within months of completion a third vessel was ordered. The main difference between these and the Maidstones was the slight deck over the upper deck to improve defensibility. Their armament was similar as were the dimensions of the vessels. They were constructed between 1702 and 1704.

HMS Triton's Prize was a 30-gun French privateer, Le Royal of St Malo taken by HMS Triton on 3 February 1705. She was purchased on 3 March 1705. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1705 for service in the English Channel. She went to the American colonies of New York and Virginia, remaining there until sold in 1703.

HMS Fox Prize was a 24-gun French privateer, Le Behringhen taken by HMS Triton on 2 May 1705. She was purchased on 19 May 1705. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1705 for service in Ireland. She was wrecked in Holyhead Bay in 1706.

HMS Dunkirk's Prize was a 26-gun French privateer, Le Hocquart of St Malo taken by HMS Dunkirk in September 1705. She was purchased and registered on 15 November 1705. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1706 for service in the West Indies. She was grounded and lost while chasing a French privateer which also went aground and was captured. She was lost in 1708.

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 Orford's Prize was a 24-gun French privateer, Le Gaillarde taken by HMS Orford on 2 October 1708. She was purchased and registered on 21 October 1708. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1708 then retaken by the French in 1709.

The Flamborough sixth rates were basically repeats of the Maidstone Group and designed and built by Richard Stacey, Master Shipwright of Woolwich. Two vessels were ordered. Their armament was similar as were the dimensions of the vessels. They were constructed between 1706 and 1708.

The Gibraltar Group of sixth rates were basically repeats of the Maidstone Group. Ten ships were ordered with one of a slightly different design and another added in 1711, for a total of twelve vessels. Their armament was similar as were the dimensions of the vessels. They were constructed between 1710 and 1716.

The 1689 Programme of fifth rates were devised by Admiral the Earl of Torrington as the prototype demi-batterie ships of the Royal Navy. 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. Five new 32-gun vessels to these specifications were ordered from Naval Dockyards in June 1689.

The Modified 1719 Establishment Group of sixth rates were basically identical to the 1719 Establishment Group except they were two feet wider. One ship would be a rebuild of an earlier vessel and one vessel of new construction. These vessels like the 1719 Establishment Group would have no lower gun ports, however, would have ten oar ports per side on the lower deck. These ships would be constructed between 1729 and 1732.

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.

The 1694 Programme of 32-gun fifth rates were derived from the 1693 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 eleven gun ports on the upper deck. The lower deck would be provided with four to eight gun 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. Nineteen more 32-gun vessels to these specifications were ordered in from 1694 to 1698 with thirteen to be built by contract and nine in dockyard.

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 Winchelsea was a 32-gun fifth rate vessel built under contract at Redbridge (Southampton) in 1693/94. After commissioning she was employed for trade protection in the North Sea, guard ship at Plymouth, briefly with Shovell's Fleet in the Channel and a brief visit to the West Indies. While on fisheries protection in the Channel she was taken by the French off Hastings in June 1706.

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 Southsea Castle was a 32-gun fifth rate built under contract by John Knowler of Redbridge (Southampton) in 1695/96.

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.

References

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