HMS Scarborough (1694) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 England |
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| Name | HMS Scarborough |
| Ordered | 10 March 1693 |
| Builder | Woolwich Dockyard |
| Launched | 15 February 1694 |
| Commissioned | January 1694 |
| Captured | 18 July 1694 |
| Fate | Taken by two French Privateers and incorporated in to French Service |
 France |
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| Name | Le Duc de Chaulnes |
| Acquired | 1694 |
| In service | 1694–1697 |
| Captured | 15 February 1697 |
| Fate | Taken by two English men-of-war and renamed HMS Milford |
| England |
|
| Name | HMS Milford |
| Acquired | 15 February 1697 |
| Commissioned | 1700 |
| Fate | Wrecked on Cape Corrientes, Cuba on 18 June 1720 |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | 30-gun fifth rate |
| Tons burthen | 37435⁄94 tons (bm) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 28 ft 10.5 in (8.801 m) |
| Depth of hold | 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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| General characteristics 1705 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 36-gun fifth rate |
| Tons burthen | 42089⁄94 tons (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 29 ft 10 in (9.09 m) |
| Depth of hold | 11 ft 10.5 in (3.62 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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Imagine a ship that changed its name not once, but twice! This is the exciting story of HMS Scarborough, a warship built in England in the late 1600s. It was a "fifth-rate" ship, which means it was a medium-sized warship, smaller than the biggest battleships but still powerful. Its journey was full of adventure, including being captured by enemies and then recaptured, before finally becoming HMS Milford.
Contents
The Story of a Ship with Many Names
HMS Scarborough was first built in 1693-1694. It was designed to carry 32 cannons. Not long after it started sailing, it was captured by French privateers. Privateers were like private ships that were allowed by their government to attack enemy ships. After its capture, the ship was renamed Le Duc de Chaulnes and served the French for a few years.
But the story didn't end there! In 1697, English warships recaptured it. The ship then got a new English name: HMS Milford. It continued to serve the English Royal Navy for many more years, sailing to different parts of the world, including Africa and the West Indies. It even got a major upgrade in 1705 to make it even stronger.
Building a Mighty Ship
The original HMS Scarborough was ordered on March 10, 1693. It was built at Woolwich Dockyard, a special place where ships were constructed. The ship was officially launched into the water on February 15, 1694.
When it was first built, the ship was about 104 feet 10 inches (31.95 metres) long on its main gun deck. That's longer than three school buses! It was also about 28 feet 10.5 inches (8.80 metres) wide. These measurements helped naval engineers understand how big and heavy the ship was.
The ship's main job was to fight, so it carried many cannons. It had four large cannons called "demi-culverins" on its lower deck. On the upper deck, it had between twenty and twenty-two "sakers," which were medium-sized cannons. Finally, on the quarterdeck, it had four to six smaller cannons called "minions." These different types of guns allowed the ship to attack enemies from various distances.
First Adventures and a New Name
HMS Scarborough began its service in January 1694. Its first captain was Thomas Killingworth. The ship was sent to patrol the Irish Channel, a busy sea route.
However, on July 18, 1694, disaster struck. Two French privateer ships, the 36-gun Le Comte de Revel and the 22-gun L'Etoille, attacked HMS Scarborough near Tory Island, off the coast of Northern Ireland. The battle was fierce, and Captain Killingworth and 32 of his crew members were sadly killed. The French captured the ship and added it to their own fleet, renaming it Le Duc de Chaulnes.
The ship served the French for about three years. But on September 15, 1697, two English warships, HMS Plymouth and HMS Rye, managed to recapture it! The ship was brought back into English service and given a new name: HMS Milford.
In 1700, HMS Milford was ready for new missions. It sailed under Captain William Moses to the coast of Africa. Later, in 1703, Captain Edward Windsor took command, and the ship sailed to the West Indies. After these voyages, it was decided that the ship needed a major upgrade.
A Major Makeover: The 1705 Rebuild
In 1705, HMS Milford was sent to Deptford Dockyard for a complete rebuild. This wasn't just a small repair; it was like taking the ship apart and putting it back together, but better! The rebuild was finished in December 1705.
After the rebuild, the ship was even larger and more powerful. Its main gun deck was now about 108 feet 7.5 inches (33.11 metres) long, and it was wider at 29 feet 10 inches (9.09 metres). It was now designed to carry 36 cannons during wartime. This new setup included eight large 12-pounder cannons on the lower deck, twenty-two 6-pounder cannons on the upper deck, and six more 6-pounder cannons on the quarterdeck. This made HMS Milford a formidable warship.
Later Voyages and Final Journey
After its rebuild, HMS Milford continued its service with the Royal Navy. In December 1705, Captain Philip Stanhope took command. The ship was involved in important events, like helping with the siege of Ostend in June 1706. During this siege, the ships bombarded the town to help the army land troops, and Ostend soon surrendered.
HMS Milford also took part in naval battles. In January 1707, working with another ship, HMS Fowey, it helped destroy a 60-gun French ship and captured a 42-gun French ship called Le Mercure. The ship also escorted important people and convoys.
In September 1708, Captain Stanhope was sadly killed in action at Minorca. Captain John Goodhall then took command and served with the ship until 1715, sailing in the Mediterranean Sea. After returning to England, the ship underwent some smaller repairs.
In 1718, Captain Peter Chamberlain became the ship's commander, and HMS Milford was sent to Jamaica in the West Indies.
Loss of the Ship
The long and adventurous journey of HMS Milford came to an end on June 18, 1720. The ship was tragically wrecked on Cape Corrientes, which is located in Cuba. Most of the crew, including Captain Chamberlain, were lost in the incident.
