HMS Swiftsure (1750)

HMS Swiftsure was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1755 and in active service during the Seven Years' War. After a distinguished career at sea she was decommissioned in 1763 and sold into private hands ten years later.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Swiftsure.

Swiftsure
History
Great Britain
Name: HMS Swiftsure
Ordered: 31 August 1745
Builder: John Hollond, Deptford Dockyard
Laid down: 26 January 1747
Launched: 25 May 1750
Commissioned: 27 July 1750
In service: 1755–1763
Out of service: 1763–1773
Fate: Sold, 2 June 1773
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: 1745 Establishment 70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 1426​42⁄94(bm)
Length:
  • 160 ft (48.8 m) (gundeck)
  • 131 ft 4 in (40.0 m) (keel)
Beam: 45 ft 2 in (13.8 m)
Depth of hold: 19 ft 4 in (5.9 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Complement: 520
Armament:
  • 70 guns:
  • Gundeck: 26 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 12 × 9 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs
Battle of Cartagena, where Swiftsure was in action against Le Foudroyant

Construction

Swiftsure was built at Deptford Dockyard to the specifications of the 1745 Establishment, and launched on 25 May 1750.[1]

Swiftsure was commissioned into the Royal Navy in August 1755, under Captain Augustus Keppel. In 1756 her command was transferred to Captain Matthew Buckle, and she was assigned first to the fleet under Admiral Henry Osborn, and then to that of Edward Boscawen. In company with HMS Monmouth she engaged and captured the French ship of the line Le Foudroyant in 1758, and towed her to join the fleet of Admiral Osborn at Cartagena.[2]

In 1759 she was again with Admiral Boscawen at Lagos, and at Quiberon Bay later that year, and at the capture of Belle Île in 1761.[3]

She was sold on 2 June 1773.[3]

References
  1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p173.
  2. Famous Fighters of the Fleet, Edward Fraser, 1904 p.33
  3. Winfield 2007, p. 54

Bibliography
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line – Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650–1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
  • Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 9781844157006.


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