HMS Berwick (1775) facts for kids
Berwick
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Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} Great Britain |
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| Name | HMS Berwick |
| Ordered | 12 December 1768 |
| Builder | Portsmouth Dockyard |
| Laid down | May 1769 |
| Launched | 18 April 1775 |
| Captured | 8 March 1795, by the French |
| Notes |
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 France |
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| Name | Berwick |
| Acquired | 8 March 1795 |
| Honours and awards |
Battle of Trafalgar |
| Captured | 21 October 1805, by Royal Navy |
| Fate | Wrecked, 22 October 1805, in the storm following the Battle of Trafalgar |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Elizabeth-class ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 162256⁄94 (bm) |
| Length | 168 ft 6 in (51.4 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 47 ft (14.3 m) |
| Draught |
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| Depth of hold | 12 ft 10 in (3.9 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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HMS Berwick was a powerful warship from the 1700s. She was a 74-gun ship, meaning she carried 74 cannons! She belonged to the Royal Navy of Great Britain. Berwick was built in Portsmouth Dockyard and launched in 1775.
This ship saw a lot of action. She fought in important battles against the French and Dutch navies. Later, the French captured her and used her in their own navy. But the British recaptured her at the famous Battle of Trafalgar. Sadly, Berwick sank in a big storm right after that battle.
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Berwick started her service in December 1777. When France joined the American War of Independence in 1778, Berwick became part of the Channel Fleet. This fleet protected Britain's waters.
In July 1778, she fought in the Battle of Ushant. This was a major sea battle against the French. Berwick continued to serve with the Channel Fleet throughout 1779.
Adventures in the West Indies
In 1780, Berwick sailed to the West Indies. She was part of a group of ships sent to help the British fleet there. However, they arrived too late for the big battles that year.
After that, Berwick was sent to Jamaica. A young officer named John Hunter was on board. He later became a famous admiral and the second Governor of New South Wales in Australia.
While in Jamaica, Berwick faced a huge hurricane in October 1780. The storm was so strong it completely broke her masts. She was pushed out to sea and badly damaged. Because of this, she had to sail all the way back to England for repairs.
North Sea Duties
After her repairs, Berwick went to the North Sea. This area became very important for convoys. Convoys are groups of merchant ships traveling together for safety. French and Spanish ships made other routes dangerous.
In 1781, Berwick was commanded by Captain John Ferguson. On April 17, she and another ship captured a privateer named Callonne. A privateer was a private ship allowed to attack enemy ships. Callonne was fast and well-armed.
Later that year, the Dutch joined the war against Britain. The British sent more ships to the North Sea to strengthen Berwick's squadron. Berwick even got two extra powerful cannons for her stern.
Battle of Dogger Bank
On August 5, 1781, Berwick was escorting a large convoy of 700 merchant ships. They met a Dutch squadron that also had a convoy. This led to the Battle of Dogger Bank.
It was a fierce fight. Berwick suffered many casualties, with 16 sailors killed and 58 wounded. After the war ended, Berwick was taken out of active service in 1783. She was kept in a special reserve fleet.
Return to Service and Capture
Berwick was brought back into service on January 1, 1793. This was just as the French Revolutionary Wars were beginning. She sailed to the Mediterranean Sea to join the British fleet. She took part in operations at Toulon later that year.
In early 1795, Berwick was being repaired in Corsica. During this time, her lower masts broke off and fell into the sea. This was a serious problem. The ship's captain, Adam Littlejohn, tried to sail her with a temporary mast setup.
However, Berwick ran into the French fleet. In the battle that followed, the French captured Berwick. Her rigging was destroyed, and her sails were in tatters. Captain Littlejohn was killed during the fight. The remaining officers decided they could not escape. They ordered the ship to strike her colours, which means lowering the flag to surrender.
The French took Berwick to Toulon. She was then added to the French Navy and kept her name, Berwick.
In September 1795, the French Berwick sailed from Toulon. She was part of a group of six French warships. In October, this group attacked a British convoy. They captured 30 out of 31 British merchant ships.
Berwick then sailed to Rochefort and later to Brest. By 1803, she was back in the Mediterranean Sea at Toulon.
Napoleonic Wars and Final Battle
In March 1805, Berwick joined a large French fleet. This fleet, led by Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, sailed to the West Indies. While there, Berwick helped attack the British position on Diamond Rock, which surrendered.
When Villeneuve learned that the famous British Admiral Nelson was following him, he sailed back to Europe. Near Cape Finisterre, the French fleet met a British fleet. After a tough fight, the fleets separated.
The French ships, including Berwick, went to Cádiz to rest and get supplies. Villeneuve wanted a big victory against the British fleet. So, he left Cádiz to meet the British fleet near Cape Trafalgar.
Fate at Trafalgar
On October 21, 1805, Berwick fought in the famous Battle of Trafalgar. During this battle, the British ship Achille recaptured her.
However, Berwick's story ended tragically. The day after the battle, a huge storm hit. While anchored near Sanlúcar de Barrameda, her French prisoners cut her anchor cables. This caused Berwick to drift and sink in the tempest. Another British ship, Donegal, sent boats to help. But many of the around 200 people on board Berwick lost their lives.
