47:
451:. The fire ship was repeatedly struck in the hull, and quantities of gunpowder were blown from the compartments across the decks and into the hold. To avoid casualties Commander Mackie ordered all but five of the crew to take to the boats, which were trailed on the far side of the ship to shelter them from enemy fire. Those still aboard busied themselves by opening the gun ports and scuttles and clearing the deck chimneys to ready the ship for being set alight. While they worked, Commander Mackie waited on deck holding the fuses that would light the explosives stored below.
26:
304:
arrived at
Deptford Dockyard for fitting out as a fire ship. Conversion to the role of fire ship involverd the construction of compartments in her hold for the storage of gunpowder and other combustible materials, and the cutting of a series of small chimneys into her deck to help ventilate fires set
393:
France entered the war against
Britain in 1743, leaving the Royal Navy's Mediterranean fleet at risk from the combined French and Spanish forces. On 9 February 1744 the fleet, comprising 38 vessels under Admiral Mathews, encountered a combined French and Spanish fleet of equivalent size off the port
398:
was placed behind the centre of the
British line but light winds and heavy swell kept the fleets apart throughout the day. At midday on the 11th, Admiral Mathews observed that the French and Spanish were seeking to depart without fighting, and gave the signal for immediate engagement.
305:
below. The eight lower deck gun ports had their hinges changed so they would fall open when their supporting ropes had burned through, further fanning any flames. Lastly, she received eight ½-pounder swivel guns along the upper deck railings for anti-personnel use.
347:
was deployed as a messenger to convey
Lestock's orders to the captains of his larger ships. She was also part of a small three-vessel squadron sent to the Bay of Ajaccio under Vice-Admiral Thomas Mathews to investigate reports that a single Spanish
277:
was originally a commercial vessel owned by merchant George
Stevens of Deptford. As built, she was 97 ft 9 in (29.8 m) long with an 80 ft 0 in (24.4 m) keel, a beam of 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m), and measuring
785:
Vice-Admirall
Lestock's Account of the Late Engagement Near Toulon: Between His Majesty's Fleet, and the Fleets of France and Spain; as Presented by Him the 12th of March 1744-5. Also, Letters to and from Admiral Lestock, ... With Notes, Volume
836:
A Just, Genuine and
Impartial History of the Memorable Sea-fight in the Mediterranean: Between the Combined Fleets of France and Spain, and the Royal Fleet of England, under the Commands of Two Admirals, Mathews and
432:
but her captain, Richard Norris, refused to do so. When asked by his officers why he would not support the fire ship, Norris replied "We must not go down . If we do, we shall be sunk and tore to pieces."
477:'s bows and may have ignited the loose gunpowder scattered about the fire ship's hold. Other authors reported that the gunpowder was ignited by sparks from Mackie's attack on the launch. Either way
636:
328:
was sent to form part of the blockading squadron off the port of Cadiz. She saw no active service during the year, although
Commander Hughes was promoted to the rank of
481:
promptly exploded, killing Mackie and all others aboard. According to one observer she was "within her own length", or roughly 100 feet (30 m), from the disabled
997:
492:
s crew who had already taken to the boats before the explosion survived the fire ship's sinking and were able to make their way back to the
British line.
992:
320:. She was put to sea in August with a crew of 55 men, and assigned to Britain's Mediterranean fleet under the overall command of Vice-Admiral
640:
972:
332:
in
October. In 1741 she was with Haddock's fleet as it cruised between Cadiz and Toulon without engagement with the enemy at either port.
977:
532:
293:. She was two-decked, with a 12 ft 3 in (3.73 m) hold and four 6-pounder cannons located on each side of the lower deck.
982:
948:
854:
760:
520:
317:
864:
834:
783:
908:
504:
at Toulon as demonstrating "great ability and gallantry." Despite this the fire ship did no real damage to the Spanish, with
255:
523:. The younger Norris avoided a second court-martial for the same offence by resigning his Navy commission in February 1745.
1002:
417:
losing its masts and suffering around 500 casualties. Seizing the opportunity, Mathews ordered Commander Mackie to bring
987:
290:
163:
866:
The British Neptune, or A History of the Achievements of the Royal Navy from the Earliest Periods to the Present Time
454:
Despite these preparations, the fire ship was now so damaged that she seemed likely to sink before she reached the
372:. The Spanish vessel was set on fire by her crew to avoid her being captured, and sank in the Bay. This battle was
339:, who determined to take a more aggressive position against the Spanish than had his predecessor. Command of
388:
117:
379:
s only engagement under Hodsoll's command, as he was replaced shortly afterward by Commander James Mackie.
967:
901:
The Sailing Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy – Built, Purchased and Captured – 1688–1860
359:
353:
944:
927:
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887:
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72:
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with the intention of towing her away. Mackie went below and opened fire on the launch with
422:
403:
349:
321:
300:
to the Royal Navy on 22 June 1739 for £1,209 and a further £87 for ship's stores. On 3 July
336:
941:
British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates
25:
961:
920:
519:, but the trial was abandoned in deference to his father, Admiral of the Fleet Sir
329:
421:
forward to set the Spanish flagship ablaze. Mathews had expected that the 70-gun
343:
also changed hands, passing to Commander Richard Hodsoll For the next few months
232:
251:
931:
891:
874:
845:
352:
was anchored there for repairs. On reaching the Bay the squadron, comprising
247:
258:
against Spain and France. Employed against the Spanish Fleet in 1744 off
394:
of Toulon. On the following morning both fleets formed lines of battle.
443:
s unsupported approach and opened fire with the remaining guns aboard
556:
The sale price equates to a relative value of £173,000 in 2015 terms.
259:
515:
was court-martialed for cowardice following his failure to support
316:
was commissioned into the Navy in late July 1739 under Commander
884:
The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present
578:
when she exploded, and that the launch then sank alongside her.
500:
Naval historian William Clowes describes Mackie's handling of
402:
The subsequent battle centred around the Royal Navy flagship
574:
One source indicates the Spanish launch had already reached
637:"Purchasing Power of British Pounds from 1264 to Present"
368:, encountered and overwhelmed the 70-gun Spanish warship
262:, she was destroyed while engaging the Spanish flagship
254:, launched in 1739 and in active service during the
919:
335:Haddock was replaced in February 1742 by Admiral
886:. Vol. 3. Sampson, Low, Marston & Co.
508:subsequently towed to safety by other vessels.
8:
727:
725:
723:
721:
719:
717:
715:
33:blowing up during the Battle of Toulon, 1744
469:s waist guns, but to no avail. Eventually,
678:
676:
622:
620:
618:
616:
614:
612:
565:Other sources spell the surname "Hodsell."
179:80 ft 0 in (24.4 m) (keel)
458:. A Spanish launch was also approaching
798:
796:
590:
549:
639:. MeasuringWorth. 2015. Archived from
129:Destroyed off Toulon, 11 February 1744
20:
324:. Britain was at war with Spain, and
43:
7:
998:Shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea
765:The United Service Magazine, Part 2
533:List of fireships of the Royal Navy
855:The Naval History of Great Britain
176:97 ft 9 in (29.8 m)
14:
197:12 ft 3 in (3.7 m)
189:26 ft 8 in (8.1 m)
16:8-gun fire ship of the Royal Navy
428:would provide covering fire for
45:
24:
993:Ships built on the River Thames
447:as well as those of the 70-gun
761:"Admiral Matthews and Lestock"
511:Captain Richard Norris of HMS
256:War of the Austrian Succession
1:
413:. Both became disabled, with
869:. London: Richard Phillips.
973:Fireships of the Royal Navy
918:Mackay, Ruddock F. (1965).
1019:
978:Maritime incidents in 1744
859:Vol IV. London, T. Lownds.
386:
983:Naval magazine explosions
903:. Conway Maritime Press.
782:Lestock, Richard (1745).
409:and the Spanish flagship
221:8 × 6-pounder guns + 8 ×
133:
38:
23:
863:Burney, William (1807).
789:. M. Cooper. p. 11.
626:Winfield (2007), p. 345.
485:when she sank. Those of
700:Clowes 1898, pp. 93–97
389:Battle of Toulon (1744)
134:General characteristics
118:Battle of Toulon (1744)
939:Winfield, Rif (2007).
882:Clowes, W. L. (1898).
820:Mackay 1965, pp. 43–44
802:Anon 1745, pp. 208–209
759:Allen, Joseph (1842).
852:Barrow, John (1761).
840:. London: R. Walker.
436:The Spanish observed
1003:Shipwrecks of France
899:Lyon, David (1993).
597:Lyon (1993), p. 200.
988:Ships built in Kent
926:. Clarendon Press.
811:Burney 1807, p. 293
749:Barrow 1761, p. 135
731:Clowes 1898, p. 100
691:Clowes 1898, p. 273
833:Anonymous (1745).
740:Mackay 1965, p. 31
709:Clowes 1898, p. 99
682:Clowes 1898, p. 81
71:19 August 1739 at
670:Clowes 1898, p.66
661:Clowes 1898, p.65
606:Lyon 1993, p. 200
289:
238:
237:
73:Deptford Dockyard
1010:
954:
935:
925:
914:
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878:
849:
821:
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383:Battle of Toulon
378:
350:ship of the line
322:Nicholas Haddock
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53:
50:
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28:
21:
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546:
541:
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498:
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473:'s gunfire hit
465:
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391:
385:
376:
337:Richard Lestock
311:
285:
281:
280:
272:
227:
223:
222:
157:
153:
152:
151:
142:8-gun fire ship
104:
51:
46:
44:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1016:
1014:
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1005:
1000:
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990:
985:
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936:
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643:on 1 June 2016
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387:Main article:
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318:Richard Hughes
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950:9781844157006
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923:
922:Admiral Hawke
916:
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309:Naval service
308:
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299:
296:Stevens sold
294:
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246:was an 8-gun
245:
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194:Depth of hold
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52:Great Britain
42:
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32:
27:
22:
19:
943:. Seaforth.
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827:Bibliography
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645:. Retrieved
641:the original
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330:post-captain
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297:
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291:tons burthen
274:
273:
270:Construction
263:
242:
240:
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147:Tons burthen
111:
87:Commissioned
82:22 June 1739
61:
30:
18:
968:1730s ships
576:Anne Galley
521:John Norris
517:Anne Galley
506:Real Felipe
502:Anne Galley
487:Anne Galley
483:Real Felipe
479:Anne Galley
475:Anne Galley
471:Real Felipe
464:Anne Galley
460:Anne Galley
456:Real Felipe
445:Real Felipe
438:Anne Galley
430:Anne Galley
419:Anne Galley
415:Real Felipe
411:Real Felipe
396:Anne Galley
374:Anne Galley
366:Anne Galley
345:Anne Galley
341:Anne Galley
326:Anne Galley
314:Anne Galley
302:Anne Galley
298:Anne Galley
275:Anne Galley
264:Real Felipe
243:Anne Galley
233:swivel guns
110:Sinking of
103:Honours and
62:Anne Galley
31:Anne Galley
962:Categories
910:085177864X
586:References
252:Royal Navy
210:Complement
202:Propulsion
95:In service
932:460343756
892:421848674
875:855518963
846:745056686
539:Citations
496:Aftermath
423:HMS
404:HMS
248:fire ship
231:-pounder
98:1739–1744
90:July 1739
68:Completed
647:21 April
527:See also
449:Hercules
218:Armament
79:Acquired
837:Lestock
370:Isidoro
361:Revenge
355:Ipswich
284:⁄
250:of the
226:⁄
156:⁄
112:Isidoro
39:History
947:
930:
907:
890:
873:
844:
771:: 328.
260:Toulon
171:Length
114:(1743)
105:awards
544:Notes
513:Essex
490:'
466:'
441:'
425:Essex
406:Namur
377:'
205:Sails
945:ISBN
928:OCLC
905:ISBN
888:OCLC
871:OCLC
842:OCLC
649:2016
364:and
241:HMS
186:Beam
126:Fate
58:Name
278:302
150:302
964::
795:^
769:II
767:.
763:.
714:^
675:^
611:^
358:,
286:94
282:16
266:.
213:55
164:bm
158:94
154:16
953:.
934:.
913:.
894:.
877:.
857:.
848:.
786:9
651:.
228:2
224:1
166:)
162:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
