HMS Minorca (1779)

HMS Minorca was a xebec-rigged vessel that the British Royal Navy had built at Port Mahon Dockyard, Menorca (historically called "Minorca" by the British) in 1779. She participated in one major engagement in 1780. The Navy scuttled her in 1781.

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

A plan body drawing of HMS Minorca dated 1778 from the collection of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.
History
Great Britain
Name: HMS Minorca
Ordered: October 1777
Laid down: February 1778
Launched: 29 August 1779
Fate: Scuttled 1781
General characteristics [1]
Type: Xebec
Tons burthen: 388​40⁄94 (bm)
Length:
  • 96 ft 9 in (29.5 m) (overall)
  • 78 ft 6 in (23.9 m) (keel)
Beam: 30 ft 6 in (9.3 m)
Depth of hold: 10 ft 0 in (3.0 m)
Crew: 130
Armament:
  • Upper deck:18 x 6-pounder guns + 18 × ½-pounder swivel guns
  • QD:2 x 6-pounder guns + 6 × 6-pounder carronades

Career

Minorca was built with a sloop hull, but broader. She was rigged as a xebec, with square-rigged and lateen sails. The Navy classified her as a ship-sloop.[1] Commander the Honourable Charles S. Conway commissioned her in June 1778. On 4 March 1779, Patrick Leslie was promoted to Commander into Minorca, replacing Conway.[1] Leslie received promotion to post captain on 26 January 1780. His replacement was Commander Charels Knowles, who received a promotion to post captain and command of HMS Porcupine on 4 February. Knowles' replacement was Lieutenant, later Commander, Hugh Lawson.

On 30 July 1780 Minorca and Porcupine engaged the French frigate Montreal off the Barbary coast. The two-hour engagement was indecisive.[1] Porcupine and Minorca withdrew because even if Montreal had struck, they could not have taken her off. Also, three other ships had appeared on the horizon. The French lost four killed, including their captain. The English had five killed and two wounded; two of the dead were on Minorca.[2]

Fate

The Royal Navy sank Minorca on 21 August 1781 to block the entrance to the harbour at Port Mahon.[1]

Citations and references

Citations

  1. Winfield (2007), p.281.
  2. >Allen (1853), p.307.

References

  • Allen, Joseph (1853). Battles of the British Navy. 1. Henry G. Bohn.
  • Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1844157006.
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