HMS Europa (1783)

HMS Europa was a 50-gun fourth-rate of the Royal Navy, built by Woolwich Dockyard in 1783. Europa was based out of Jamaica, and ran aground at Montego Bay in 1785, but was not seriously damaged. When reports of the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars reached the British posts in Jamaica, Europa was sent into action along with the entire British squadron based at Jamaica, which consisted of several 12-pounder frigates and a number of smaller vessels, under the command of Commodore John Ford.

Europa approaching Port Mahon, Minorca, by Anton Schranz
History
UK
Name: HMS Europa
Ordered: 12 January 1778
Builder: Woolwich Dockyard
Laid down: 26 September 1778
Launched: 19 April 1783
Completed: By 10 September 1783
Honours and
awards:
Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Egypt"[1]
Fate: Sold for breaking up on 11 August 1814
General characteristics
Class and type: 50-gun Portland-class fourth rate
Tons burthen: 1,046 9194 (bm)
Length:
  • 145 ft 11 in (44.5 m) (overall)
  • 119 ft 8 in (36.5 m) (keel)
Beam: 40 ft 7 14 in (12.4 m)
Depth of hold: 17 ft 5 12 in (5.32 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Complement: 350
Armament:
  • Lower deck: 22 × 24-pounder guns
  • UD: 22 × 12-pounder guns
  • QD: 4 × 6-pounder guns
  • Fc: 2 × 6-pounder guns

Service

In April 1793, when the Royal Navy station in Jamaica received word of the War of the First Coalition, the naval squadron based at Jamaica, under the command of Commodore John Ford, became active.[2] Europa served as a troop transport, and also helped capture French merchant vessels, carrying produce and supplies. On 1 June 1794, Europa assisted HMS Belliqueux, HMS Penelope, and HMS Sceptre in attacking French fortifications during the capture of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Europa, under the command of James Stephenson, served as a troopship during the British expedition to Egypt in 1801. There she participated in the landing at Aboukir Bay, an overwhelming attack that defeated the French and led to the British capture of Cairo. Because Europa served in the navy's Egyptian campaign between 8 March 1801 and 2 September, her officers and crew qualified for the clasp "Egypt" to the Naval General Service Medal, which the Admiralty issued in 1847 to all surviving claimants.

Fate

The Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy offered the "Europa, of 50 guns and 1047 tons", lying at Portsmouth, for sale on 11 August 1814. The buyer had to post a bond of £3,000, with two guarantors, that they would break up the vessel within a year of purchase.[3] Europa was sold in 1814.[4]

Notable crew members

References

  1. "No. 21077". The London Gazette. 15 March 1850. pp. 791–792.
  2. History of the Royal Navy, William James
  3. "No. 16920". The London Gazette. 26 July 1814. p. 1510.
  4. Index of 19th Century Naval Vessels and a few of their movements
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