HMS Blenheim (1813)

HMS Blenheim was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 31 May 1813 at Deptford Dockyard.[1]

HMS Blenheim, c. 1855
History
UK
Name:	HMS Blenheim
Ordered:	4 January 1808
Builder:	Deptford Dockyard
Laid down:	August 1808
Launched:	31 May 1813
Fate:	Broken up, 1865
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:	Vengeur-class ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1747 tons 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, 1847 Steam Screw
Sail plan:	Full-rigged ship
Armament:	Originally Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounder guns Upper gundeck: 28 × 18-pounder guns QD: 4 × 12-pounder guns + 10 × 32-pounder carronades Fc: 2 × 12-pounder guns + 2 × 32-pounder carronades Poop deck: 6 × 18-pounder carronades 1847: 60 guns

Blenheim was placed on harbour service in 1831. Her captain, Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, died on board Blenheim in the morning of 13 June 1841, from fever contracted during operations in Canton, China, in May 1841.

On 20 March 1847, Blenheim was in collision with the British brig Cactus in the River Thames and was driven ashore on the Essex bank. The tug HMS Monkey attempted to refloat Blenheim, but Blenheim and Monkey collided and Blenheim was driven into the brig Agility, which was severely damaged. Monkey assisted in beaching Agility on the Essex bank to prevent her from sinking. Blenheim subsequently was refloated and taken in to Woolwich, Kent.[2]

Blenheim converted to screw propulsion in 1847.

Mast with cannonball from 1855, on exhibit at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

In 1854–1855 Blenheim saw service in the Baltic Sea as a 60-gun steam screw vessel.[3] During this service a 32-pounder cannonball struck and became embedded in her mast in 1855.

Blenheim was broken up in 1865.[1]