HMS Defence (1815)

HMS Defence was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 25 April 1815 at Chatham.[1]

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

Defence
History
UK
Name: HMS Defence
Ordered: 23 March 1809
Builder: Chatham Dockyard
Laid down: May 1812
Launched: 25 April 1815
Fate: Burnt, 1857
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: Vengeur-class ship of the line
Tons burthen: 1754 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
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament:
  • 74 guns:
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 4 × 12 pdrs, 10 × 32 pdr carronades
  • Forecastle: 2 × 12 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades
  • Poop deck: 6 × 18 pdr carronades

She was converted to serve as a prison ship in 1849.[1] Defence was badly damaged by an accidental fire, probably caused by spontaneous combustion in a load recently delivered coal,[2] at Woolwich on 14 July 1857.[3] The fire was extinguished by scuttling the ship[2] and while it was not totally destroyed the remains were broken up later.[3]

Notes
  1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol. 1, p. 189.
  2. The Hobart Town Mercury, 30 Oct 1857, p2
  3. Gossett (1986), p. 114.

References
  • Gossett, William Patrick (1986). The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. Mansell. ISBN 0-7201-1816-6.
  • 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.


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