HMS Atlas was a 98-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 13 February 1782.[1] She was a Duke-class ship of the line built at Chatham Dockyard by Nicholas Phillips.

Atlas the plan includes pencil alterations dated 1802 for cutting her down to 74-gun two-decker third rate
History
Great Britain
NameHMS Atlas
Ordered5 August 1777
BuilderChatham Dockyard
Laid down1 October 1777
Launched13 February 1782
FateBroken up, 1821
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeDuke-class ship of the line
Tons burthen1950 bm
Length177 ft 6 in (54.10 m) (gundeck)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Depth of hold21 ft 2 in (6.45 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 98 guns:
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounders
  • Middle gundeck: 30 × 18-pounders
  • Upper gundeck: 30 × 12-pounders
  • Quarterdeck: 8 × 12-pounders
  • Forecastle: 2 × 12-pounders

History edit

For some of the period between 1798 and 1802, she was under the command of Captain Theophilus Jones.[2]

In 1802 she was reduced to a 74-gun ship.[3]

In 1798, some of her crew were court-martialed for mutiny.[4]

She participated in the naval Battle of San Domingo on 6 February 1806, when she suffered eight killed and 11 wounded. Her captain was Samuel Pym, who had joined her the year before.

In 1808, while off Cadiz and serving as the flagship of Rear Admiral Purvis, she came under fire from French batteries on many occasions. In all, she lost about 50 men killed and wounded. She was responsible for the destruction of Fort Catalina.[5]

Atlas was fitted as a temporary prison ship at Portsmouth from 1813 to 1814. She then spent some months as a powder magazine. She was finally broken up in 1821.[1]

Citations and notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 179.
  2. ^ The United Service Magazine. 1836. pp. 95–6. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  3. ^ Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, S. Yorkshire: Seaforth. pp. location 2040 of 22457. ISBN 9781-844157006 – via Kindle edition.
  4. ^ MacDougall, Phillip (2022). "The Naval Mutinies of 1798". The Mariner's Mirror. 108 (4). Society for Nautical Research: 423–438.
  5. ^ "Atlas (98) [1782]".

References edit

  • 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 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.