British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates by Winfield Rif

Author:Winfield, Rif
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / Naval
ISBN: 9781783469253
Publisher: Seaforth Publishing
Published: 2007-12-11T16:00:00+00:00

(C) Vessels acquired from 22 June 1751

The problem with the small two-decker cruiser was that the LD gunports had so little freeboard that in rough weather they could not safely be opened. The lesson learn from French experiments was that closing up the LD ports could provide a more substantial vessel with its main battery entirely on the UD, with the LD reduced to a light platform at or below the waterline. Initially Sixth Rates with a 9pdr battery were built (developed from French 8pdr light frigates), but when France introduced a 12pdr-armed variant, this was soon copied by the British Navy. The 32-gun and 36-gun frigates having no precedents in the British Navy, a new 12pdr (7ft 6in long / 28½cwt) gun was specially designed for the frigates, with a new 6pdr (6ft long / 16½cwt) gun similarly designed for their upperworks. It was at first intended to locate all six 6pdrs on the QD, but one pair was moved to the Fc.

SOUTHAMPTON Class – 32 guns. The ‘first true (12pdr-armed) frigates’ in the RN, although completed with sweep ports along the LD. The design by Sir Thomas Slade was approved 12.3.1756, and the contract with Inwood on 29.3.1756 specified the ship at 64837/94 bm, and that she was to be built by the end of 3.1757. However the design was altered 25.5.1756 (lengthened by 3in on LD). The Minerva’s contract on 31.5.1756 provided that she be built in 12 months, while Vestal’s on 2.6.1756 likewise provided for her to be launched by or before 2.6.1757, and Diana’s on 16.6.1756 stated she was to be launched by or before 16.7.1757.

Dimensions & tons: original 124ft 1in, 101ft 5in x 34ft 8in x 12ft 0in. 64837/94 bm.

As revised (25.5.1756): 124ft 4in, 102ft 3½in x 34ft 8in x 12ft 0in. 65251/94 bm.

Men: 210 (215 from 1794). Guns: UD 26 x 12pdrs; QD 4 x 6pdrs; Fc 2 x 6pdrs. Also 12 x ½pdr swivels. By 11.1794, the Southampton also supposedly also had 6 x 24pdr carronades, but actually carried none.

Southampton Robert Inwood, Rotherhithe.

As built: 124ft 4in, 103ft 1in x 35ft 0in x 12ft 1in. 67164/94 bm.

Ord: 12.3.1756. K: 4.1756. (named 25.5.1756) L: 5.5.1757. C: 19.6.1757 at Deptford Dyd.

First cost: £6,427.10.10d to build (@ £9.17.0d per ton), plus £4,266.4.11d fitting.

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