HMS Flamborough (1707) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 Great Britain |
|
| Name | HMS Flamborough |
| Ordered | 30 July 1706 |
| Builder | Woolwich Dockyard |
| Laid down | 1706 |
| Launched | 29 January 1707 |
| Decommissioned | 1748 |
| Fate | Sold out of service, 10 January 1749 |
| Notes |
|
| General characteristics as originally built | |
| Class and type | 24-gun Sixth rate |
| Tons burthen | 261 49⁄94 bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m) |
| Depth of hold | 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 115 (85 in peacetime) |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | Rebuilt, 1727 |
| General characteristics after 1727 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 20-gun Sixth rate |
| Tons burthen | 377 41⁄94 bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 28 ft 5 in (8.66 m) |
| Depth of hold | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 140 |
| Armament | 20 x 6-pounder guns |
| Notes | Sold 10 January 1749 |
HMS Flamborough was a special kind of Royal Navy ship called a post ship. It was built in 1707 with 24 guns. This ship was the first Royal Navy vessel to be stationed in South Carolina, staying there from 1719 to 1721.
In 1727, the Flamborough was rebuilt. It became a larger ship with 20 guns. For the next ten years, it sailed near Ireland and later in the Caribbean Sea. In 1739, after being in New York, it returned to the Carolinas. There, it patrolled the coast and played a small part in the War of Jenkins' Ear. The ship went back to England in 1745. After big repairs, it was ready for duty again in April 1746. Captain Jervis Porter commanded it. For two years, it served in the North Sea. The Flamborough was sold out of naval service in 1749.
Building the Ship and Early Missions
The Flamborough was built at Woolwich Dockyard. It was started in 1706 and launched on January 29, 1707. This means it was put into the water for the first time.
One of its first jobs was protecting fishing boats near Yarmouth in 1707. Commander William Clarke was in charge then. Later, in 1708, it joined Byng's Channel fleet. In 1710, Captain Charles Vanburgh commanded the ship. They captured two French privateer ships in the North Sea. Privateers were like legal pirates, allowed by their government to attack enemy ships. These were the Trompeuse on May 22 and the St François on June 5.
In 1711, Commander Thomas Howard took command. The Flamborough was assigned to protect merchant ships. It also had to stop French privateers in English waters. These waters were between Newcastle and Leith. Late in 1711, it captured another French privateer. This happened after a short fight near Bass Rock. The privateer's Scottish captain was later found guilty of treason and executed.
The Flamborough served in the North Sea from 1718 to 1719. It helped capture Eilean Donan Castle in May 1719. This happened during the Jacobite rising of 1719. From October 1719 to July 1721, the ship was stationed in South Carolina. Captain John Hildesley was in charge. This was the first Royal Navy ship to be assigned to these waters. In 1720, the Flamborough helped defend against a Spanish fleet. This was during the Raid on Nassau.
In 1727, the ship was rebuilt at Portsmouth. It became a 20-gun vessel. Ten years later, it went back to the Americas. It sailed to New York in March 1738 under Captain Vincent Pearce.
War with Spain
By the late 1730s, it looked like Britain and Spain would go to war. The British Admiralty was worried about the safety of settlements. These were along the coasts of Carolina and Georgia. On June 11, 1739, the Admiralty gave orders for six ships. The Flamborough was one of them. Their job was to "protect the said settlements." They would do this by "taking, burning or otherwise destroying the ships" that the Spanish might use.
The Flamborough then left New York for the Carolinas. It arrived before Britain officially declared war with Spain in October.
Its first wartime mission was in May 1740. It anchored at the mouth of the St Johns River. Its job was to protect British troops landing there. These troops were part of the Siege of St. Augustine. In 1742, Captain Joseph Hamar took command. His orders were to patrol between Georgia and the Bahamas. In June, it briefly fought Spanish ships near St. Augustine, Florida. It forced several enemy ships to run aground. But then it had to retreat towards St. Simons Island. This fight cost the Flamborough seventeen of its crew members.
In August, the Flamborough returned. It was part of a five-ship group. This group was led by Sir Thomas Frankland. Their goal was to make the Spanish fight near St. Augustine. But the Flamborough was not directly involved in the main battle. In October, it returned to British waters near the Carolinas. It anchored near Hobcaw alongside HMS Rose. While at Hobcaw, three of its men ran away. They were replaced by sailors taken from local merchant ships. This was called impressment.
In early January 1743, lightning struck the ship. Its front and main masts were badly damaged. It was taken to a dock in Charleston for repairs. During this time, fourteen of its crew were moved to HMS Rye. Captain Charles Hardy commanded that ship. By mid-1743, the Flamborough was ready to sail again. It proved its strength by capturing a French privateer. This ship, named La Vendre, was captured off South Carolina on October 14.
In late October 1743, the Flamborough was joined in Charleston by HMS Looe. The Looe was larger and had more guns. Its captain, Ashby Utting, took overall command of the naval group in the Carolinas. Hamar remained as commander of the Flamborough. The ship stayed in service off South Carolina until June 1, 1745. Then, it returned to England. Hamar was later moved to command the 40-gun HMS Adventure. This ship arrived in Charleston harbor on July 10, 1747.
When the Flamborough arrived in England, it went to Woolwich Dockyard. It needed major repairs. The work started in January 1746 and lasted for five months. It cost a lot of money. In April 1746, Captain Jervis Porter took command. The ship went back to sea in May. It patrolled and cruised along the English coast. In 1747, it captured five French privateers. These were Le Chasseur in June, Le Roi David and Le Louis Quinzième in July, L'Alexandre in October, and Le Ricaud in December. Both Le Roi David and Le Loius Quinzième were later bought by the Admiralty. The Flamborough crew received prize money for these captures.
End of Service
The Flamborough was an old ship by 1749. It was sold out of naval service on January 10, 1749.
