HMS Hawke (1820) facts for kids

Hawke
Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Hawke
Ordered	6 January 1812
Builder	Woolwich Dockyard
Laid down	April 1815
Launched	16 March 1820
Fate	Broken up, 1865
General characteristics
Class and type	Black Prince-class ship of the line
Tons burthen	1754 bm
Length	176 ft 1 in (53.67 m) (gundeck) 144 ft 10+1⁄2 in (44.158 m) (keel)
Beam	47 ft 8+1⁄2 in (14.542 m)
Depth of hold	21 ft (6.4 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	74 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs Quarterdeck: 4 × 12 pdrs, 10 × 32 pdr carronades Forecastle: 2 × 12 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades Poop deck: 6 × 18 pdr carronades

HMS Hawke was a large warship that belonged to the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It was a type of ship called a "ship of the line." These ships were very important for naval battles in the past. Hawke was launched in 1820 and served for many years. It was later updated with new technology before being taken apart in 1865.

What Was a Ship of the Line?

HMS Hawke was known as a "ship of the line." This name came from how these ships fought. During a sea battle, they would form a long line. This allowed them to fire all their cannons at the enemy. These ships were the most powerful warships of their time.

The Black Prince Class

Hawke belonged to a group of ships called the Black Prince class. These were all similar in design. They were built to be strong and carry many guns. Hawke was a "third-rate" ship. This meant it carried between 64 and 80 guns. Hawke itself had 74 guns.

How Many Guns?

A 74-gun ship like Hawke had cannons on different decks.

• The lowest deck, called the gundeck, had 28 large 32-pounder cannons.
• The upper gundeck had 28 slightly smaller 18-pounder cannons.
• On the quarterdeck and forecastle, there were more cannons and special shorter guns called carronades.
• Even the poop deck had some carronades.

Building HMS Hawke

The order to build HMS Hawke was given on January 6, 1812. Building such a large ship took a long time. Its construction began in April 1815.

Where Was It Built?

Hawke was built at Woolwich Dockyard. This was a very important place for building ships for the Royal Navy. It was located on the River Thames in London, England. Many famous warships were built there over hundreds of years.

Launching the Ship

After years of work, HMS Hawke was finally launched on March 16, 1820. A launch is when a ship is moved from the dry dock into the water for the first time. This was a big event, showing the ship was almost ready for service.

A New Kind of Power

For many years, warships like Hawke relied only on sails for power. They were called full-rigged ships because they had many sails on tall masts. But technology was changing quickly.

Screw Propulsion

In 1855, HMS Hawke was updated. It was converted to a "screw-propelled" ship. This meant it was fitted with a propeller at the back. This propeller would spin and push the ship through the water. It was a big step towards modern ships that use engines.

What is a Blockship?

When Hawke was converted, it also became a "blockship." These were older warships that were given engines. They were often used for coastal defense. They could move even when there was no wind, making them useful for guarding harbors. After its conversion, Hawke had fewer guns, only 60.

End of Service

HMS Hawke served the Royal Navy for many years. It saw the change from purely sail power to steam power. In 1865, the ship was "broken up." This means it was taken apart, and its materials were reused or scrapped. This was the end of its long life as a warship.