HMS Vestal (1757) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 Great Britain |
|
| Name | HMS Vestal |
| Ordered | 25 May 1756 |
| Builder | John Barnard & John Turner, Harwich |
| Laid down | June 1756 |
| Launched | 17 June 1757 |
| Completed | 17 August 1757 |
| Commissioned | April 1757 |
| Fate | Taken to pieces at Deptford, June 1775 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Southampton-class fifth-rate frigate |
| Tons burthen | 659 11⁄94 bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 34 ft 10 in (10.62 m) |
| Depth of hold | 12 ft 0 in (3.66 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 210 officers and men |
| Armament |
|
HMS Vestal was a fast sailing ship, called a frigate, used by the Royal Navy of Great Britain. It was one of four ships in its class, meaning they were built similarly. The ship was built in Harwich and launched in 1757. It served for many years before being taken apart in 1775.
Contents
Key Events for HMS Vestal
Battle with Bellone (1759)
During a big war called the Seven Years' War, in 1759, HMS Vestal was sailing towards North America. Captain Samuel Hood was in charge of the ship.
On February 21, 1759, Vestal spotted an enemy ship, the French frigate Bellone. Vestal chased after it. Around 2 p.m., the two ships began a fierce battle. The fight lasted for about four hours.
In the end, Bellone surrendered. It had lost its masts and many of its crew were killed or hurt. Vestal also suffered damage, but it won the battle. The captured Bellone was later added to the British Navy and renamed Repulse.
Bombardment of Le Havre (1759)
A few months later, in June 1759, Vestal joined a group of ships led by Rear-Admiral George Brydges Rodney. Their mission was to attack Le Havre, a port in France.
The British ships fired cannons at Le Havre. They destroyed many flat-bottomed boats and supplies. These items were being gathered for a planned invasion of England by the French. This attack helped stop the invasion plan.
Capturing Other Ships
HMS Vestal also captured several other enemy ships during its service. When a ship was captured, it was called a "prize." The money from selling these captured ships and their cargo was shared among the crew as "prize money."
For example, in March 1762, prize money was paid out in Italy for several ships Vestal had captured in the Mediterranean Sea. These included the Marquis de Pille, the St. Antoine de L'Aigle, the Marie Euphrosine, and the St. Antoine de Padua.
