HMS Rodney (1809) facts for kids
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'Rodney'of the 'Armada'/'Conquestadore'/'Vangeur' class (1806)
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Rodney |
| Ordered | 28 May 1808 |
| Builder | Barnard, Deptford |
| Laid down | March 1808 |
| Launched | 8 December 1809 |
| Fate | Sold, 1836 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Vengeur-class ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1754 (bm) |
| Length | 176 ft (54 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 47 ft 6 in (14.48 m) |
| Depth of hold | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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HMS Rodney was a powerful warship of the Royal Navy, built in the early 1800s. She was a "74-gun third-rate ship of the line," which means she carried 74 cannons and was a standard size for warships of that time. Rodney was launched on 8 December 1809 at Deptford, a famous shipbuilding area in England.
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HMS Rodney was part of the Royal Navy, the United Kingdom's main sea force. Ships like Rodney were called "ships of the line" because they were strong enough to fight in a battle line. This was a common battle tactic where ships formed a line to fire their cannons at enemy vessels.
Building a Warship: The Deptford Dockyard
Rodney was built at the Deptford Dockyard, a very important place for making ships for the Royal Navy. Building a large warship like Rodney took a lot of skill and materials. It was a huge project that involved many workers and careful planning.
A Short Life at Sea: Timber Troubles
Unfortunately, the Deptford Dockyard faced a problem when Rodney was being built. There wasn't enough "seasoned timber" available. Seasoned timber is wood that has been dried properly, making it strong and durable. Because of this shortage, Rodney's hull was built using wood that wasn't fully dried.
This unseasoned wood quickly shrank and rotted when it touched seawater. After only three years of sailing, the ship's hull fastenings (the parts that held it together) started to break. Because of these serious problems, Rodney had to return to Deptford and was taken out of service.
Even though her time as a warship was short, Rodney found a new purpose. In 1827, she was changed into a 50-gun ship, meaning some of her cannons were removed. Then, in 1836, Rodney was sold by the Navy. This meant she was no longer a military ship.
An Unexpected Collision: The Havana Incident
After being sold, Rodney entered commercial service, likely carrying goods or passengers. On 11 October 1846, while in Havana, Cuba, she was involved in an accident. Rodney collided with a British paddle steamer called Thames. A paddle steamer is a type of boat that uses large wheels with paddles to move through the water.
The collision caused damage to Rodney, destroying her "pinnace," which is a type of small boat carried on a larger ship. The impact also pushed Rodney ashore, meaning she ran aground on the land near the water.
 | Bayard Rustin |
 | Jeannette Carter |
 | Jeremiah A. Brown |
