HMS Gloucester (1695)

HMS Gloucester was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line built for the Royal Navy during the 1690s. She spent most of her career in the West Indies and participated in the 1701–15 War of the Spanish Succession. The ship was hulked in 1708 and broken up in 1731.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Gloucester.

History
Great Britain
Name: Gloucester
Ordered: 27 March 1693
Builder: Thomas Clements, Bristol
Launched: 5 February 1695
Commissioned: 1695
Decommissioned: 24 April 1708
Fate: Broken up, October 1731
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type: 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 896 ​9⁄94 bm
Length: 145 ft 2 in (44.2 m) (Gundeck)
Beam: 37 ft 5 in (11.4 m)
Depth of hold: 15 ft 8 in (4.8 m)
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Complement: 240–365
Armament:

Description

Gloucester had a length at the gundeck of 145 feet 2 inches (44.2 m) and 120 feet 4 inches (36.7 m) at the keel. She had a beam of 37 feet 5 inches (11.4 m) and a depth of hold of 15 feet 8 inches (4.8 m). The ship's tonnage was 896 ​9⁄94 tons burthen.[1] The ship was initially armed with twenty-two 24-pounder cannon on her main gundeck, twenty-two 9-pounder demi-culverins on her upper gundeck, ten 6-pounder cannon on the quarterdeck and four 3-pounder guns on the poop deck. This was revised in 1703 to twenty-four 18-pounder culverins, twenty-six 9-pounder demi-culverins and fourteen 6-pounders. The ship had a crew of 240–365 officers and ratings.[2]

Construction and career

Gloucester, named after the eponymous port, was the second ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy.[3] She was ordered on 27 March 1693 as a part of the 1691 Naval Programme from Thomas Clements of Bristol. The ship, however, was not launched until 5 May 1695. Commissioned that same year, she cost £8,659 to build; Clements was paid a further £47 for excess work done, but £241 was deducted for work not performed.[4]

Gloucester served as the flagship for Rear-Admiral John Benbow in 1698 as he cruised the West Indies and remained there until 1703. The ship returned to home waters in 1704 before sailing to Brazil in 1706. She was hulked on 24 April 1708, and was broken up in October 1731.[4]

Notes
  1. Lavery, p. 163.
  2. Winfield, p. 743.
  3. Colledge, p. 143
  4. Winfield, p. 747
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References
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The Development of the Battlefleet 1650–1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
  • Winfield, Rif (2009) British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6.
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