HMS Kent (1798) facts for kids

HMS Kent (1798) image
Quick facts for kids History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Kent
Ordered	30 April 1795
Builder	John Perry and Company Blackwall Yard
Laid down	October 1795
Launched	17 January 1798
Commissioned	3 April 1798 at Woolwich Dockyard
In service	1798–1804 1805–1809 1829–1842 1855–1881
Honours and awards	Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Egypt"
Fate	Broken up, 1881
General characteristics 1798–1817
Class and type	Ajax-class ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,96373⁄94 (bm)
Length	182 ft 8 in (55.68 m) (gundeck) 149 ft 11 in (45.69 m) (keel)
Beam	49 ft 7.5 in (15.126 m)
Depth of hold	21 ft 5 in (6.53 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	690
Armament	Gundeck: 28 × 32-pdrs Upper deck: 28 × 24-pdrs QD: 14 × 9-pdrs Fc: 4 × 9-pdrs
General characteristics 1820–1881
Class and type	Ajax-class ship of the line
Tons burthen	2,00962⁄94 (bm)
Length	184 ft 2.5 in (56.147 m) (gundeck) 150 ft 10.5 in (45.987 m) (keel)
Beam	50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Depth of hold	21 ft 10 in (6.65 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	Gundeck: 28 × 32-pdrs Upper gundeck: 28 × 24-pdrs QD: 4 × 9-pdrs & 8 x 32-pdr carronades Fc: 4 × 9-pdrs

HMS Kent was a large sailing warship called a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line. This means she was a powerful vessel with 74 cannons, designed to fight in the main battle line of a navy. She was part of the Royal Navy and was launched on January 17, 1798, at a place called Blackwall Yard.

The Ship's Early Life and Adventures

A Tricky Launch

A view of Mr. Perry's Yard in Blackwall, showing the launch of HMS Kent.

When HMS Kent was launched on January 17, 1798, something unexpected happened. She was launched right after another large ship, an East Indiaman named Lord Duncan.

Kent followed almost the exact path that Lord Duncan had taken. Because of this, Kent's back end crashed into the front of Lord Duncan. Both ships were badly damaged. They both had to go back into the dockyard for repairs before they could sail properly.

Serving in Egypt

In 1801, HMS Kent was involved in an important military campaign in Egypt. On May 9, 1801, Kent, along with two other British ships, Hector and Cruelle, tried to catch a French warship called Heliopolis.

However, the French ship was too fast and managed to escape into the port of Alexandria. Even though they didn't catch the ship, Kent and her crew played a role in the Navy's campaign in Egypt, which lasted from March 8 to September 8, 1801. Because of their service, the officers and crew later received a special award. They were given the "Egypt" clasp for their Naval General Service Medal, which was approved in 1850.

The Attack on Palamós

On December 13, 1809, HMS Kent took part in a daring attack in Spain. About 350 sailors and 250 marines from Kent and two other large warships, Cambrian and Ajax, attacked a town called Palamós.

Smaller ships, Sparrowhawk and Minstrel, helped by covering the landing party. The British team managed to destroy six out of eight merchant ships. These ships were carrying important supplies for the French army in Barcelona. They also destroyed the ships that were guarding them. These guards included a small warship with 14 guns and 60 men, and two xebecs (a type of sailing ship) with three guns and 30 men each.

These enemy ships were hiding safely inside a protected harbor area called a mole. They were also guarded by 250 French soldiers and a battery of powerful cannons. Even though the attack was successful in destroying the enemy ships, the British withdrawal was difficult. The British lost 33 men who were killed, 89 who were wounded, and 86 who were taken prisoner. One sailor also used the chance to leave the navy.

The End of HMS Kent

After many years of service, HMS Kent was changed into a sheer hulk in 1856. A sheer hulk is a ship that has had its masts and rigging removed. It is then used as a floating crane to help build or repair other ships. Finally, in 1881, HMS Kent was broken up, which means she was taken apart.