Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Nightingale Group |
Builders | |
Operators | Royal Navy |
Preceded by | Maidstone Group |
Succeeded by | Purchased Group |
Built | 1702–1704 |
In service | 1702–1724 |
Completed | 3 |
Lost | 2 |
Retired | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type | 20-gun sixth rate |
Tons burthen | 244+57⁄94 bm |
Length |
|
Beam | 24 ft 4 in (7.4 m) for tonnage |
Depth of hold | 10 ft 8 in (3.3 m) |
Armament |
|
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. [1]
The construction of the vessels was assigned to naval dockyards. As with most vessels of this time period only order and launch dates are available. Each ship was built to the Maidstone Group 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 gun armament as established in 1703 would be twenty 6-pounder cannon mounted on wooden trucks on the upper deck with four 3-pounder guns on the quarterdeck. [3]
Name | Builder | Launch date | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
Nightingale (1702) | Chatham Dockyard | 16 December 1702 |
|
Squirrel (1703) i | Portsmouth Dockyard | June 1703 | Captured by French privateers 21 September 1703 |
Squirrel (1704) ii | Portsmouth Dockyard | October 1704 | captured by French privateers 7 July 1706, then recaptured 1708 and foundered |
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 Suffolk was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by contract of 20 February 1678 by Sir Henry Johnson at Blackwall. She participated in the War of the English Succession 1689 - 1697, in the Battles of Beachy Head and Barfleur. She was rebuilt in 1699. She was actively involved in the War of Spanish Succession 1702 - 1713. Her later career was as guard ship duties, deployments to the Baltic Sea and the West Indies. She was finally broken in 1765 after lying in Ordinary for almost twenty years.
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 per ship with another £2,513 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. This first standardized group of sixth rates became known as the Maidstone Group.
HMS Seaford was purchased from Richard Herring of Bursledon, who had built the 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.
HMS Nightingale was a development of the standardize 20-gun sixth rates and were built at the beginning of the 18th Century. After she was captured by French privateer galleys in 1707 then recaptured four months later. She was renamed HMS Fox and continued service until she was rebuilt at Deptford. Her breaking was completed in January 1738.
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 Nightingale was a 24-gun sixth-rate ship of the Royal Navy, purchased in 1706 and in service in North America and English waters until 1716.
HMS Deal Castle was a 24-gun sixth-rate ship of the Royal Navy, purchased in 1706 and in service in West Indies, North America and English waters until 1727 when she was rebuilt at Sheerness. She commissioned after her rebuild in May 1727 and served in Home waters, North America and the West Indies. She was finally broken at Deptford in August 1746.
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 1719 Establishment Group of sixth rates defined the 20-gun sixth rate using the Dursley Galley as a model. This design works and sailed well. Seventeen ships would be rebuilds of earlier vessels, some would be fifth rates, a couple of fireships and three vessels of new construction with the majority rebuilt from older sixth rate vessels. These ships would be constructed between 1722 and 1727.
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.
HMS Speedwell was a fireship of the 1689 Programme built under contract. She would be rebuilt and rerated several times from a fireship to a 24-gun fifth rate then reduced to a 20-gun sixth rate and finally a bomb ketch. She was at the Battle of Barfleur in 1692 and had an attempted mutiny in 1699. After her first rebuild she was employed in the Irish Sea capturing four privateers and recapturing a sloop. She was wrecked on the Dutch coast in 1720.
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.
The 1637 Group of two 300 ton 'pinnances' to carry fourteen pieces of ordnance and sixteen banks of oars were ordered on 12 December 1636. These vessels would carry thirty pieces of ordnance with ten pairs of gun ports on the lower deck with two pair forward and four pairs aft on the upper deck. The waist would be unprotected until two more pairs of gun ports were added later. Their measurements would compare favourably to the 'frigate' type vessels built a decade later. Their beam to length ratio of 3.46 to 1 would make a more true frigate than the Constant Warwick.
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 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.
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.