HDMS Det Store Bælt (1782)

HDMS Det Store Bælt[2][Note 1] was a frigate of the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy, launched in 1782. In 1800, she was sold to the Danish Asiatic Company and renamed Holsteen.[1]

Holstein in 1803.
History
Denmark & Norway
NameDet Store Bælt[2]
BuilderHenrik Gerner[2] at Bodenhoffs Shipyard, Copenhagen[1]
Launched22 June 1782[1]
Commissioned1773[2]
Decommissioned1800[2]
FateSold to the Danish Asiatic company[1]
Denmark
Namerenamed Holsten, on purchase in 1800[1]
OwnerDanish Asiatic Company[1]
AcquiredBy purchase in 1800
FateCondemned at Mauritius[1] probably 1807
General characteristics
Class and typeFrigate
Length130 ft 9 in (39.85 m)[1]
Beam35 ft (11 m)[1]
Draught14 ft 9 in (4.50 m)[1]
Sail planFrigate
Armament36 x 12–pounder guns[1]

Construction and design edit

Det Store Bælt was constructed at Bodenhoffs Plads to a design by Henrik Gerner. She was the first of at least three frigates constructed for the navy at Andreas Bodenhoff's dockyard. The next were Friderichsværn (1783) and Hvide Ørn (1784).[3] Det Store Bælt was launched on 22 June 1782 and the construction was completed in August 1783.[4]

Store Bælt was 130 ft 9 in (39.85 m) long with a beam of 35 ft (11 m) and a draught of 14 ft 9 in (4.50 m). Her complement was 274 men. Her armerment was 36 12-pounder guns.[5]

Career edit

Naval service edit

She was commissioned in the Royal Danish Navy and served for some years as the cadet training ship in the North and Baltic seas.[6][7][8] In 1793 she was patrolling in the North Sea under the command of A J Herbst,[9] and in 1795 and 1797 was part of a joint Danish/Swedish squadron enforcing neutrality and protecting trade.[10] In 1797, she was under the command of Hans Lindholm. [11]

DAC service edit

In 1800 the Royal Danish Navy sold Store Bælt for 7,800 rigsdaler to the Danish Asiatic Company who renamed her Holsten[1]

From her home port of Copenhagen Holsten completed three voyages to the East Indies:

  • 1800 - 1801
  • 1801 - 1803 under captain Jan Hendrick Helsding
  • 1804 - 1805 also under captain Jan Hendrick Helsding.[1]

On 12 June 1805 Holstein, Helfding, master, was reported off Dover on her way from Bengal to Copenhagen.[12] It appears that it was on a fourth voyage that she met her fate.

Fate edit

A report in the Madras Courier dated 10 February 1807 stated that the Danish company's ship Holstein was sailing from Copenhagen to Serampore when she was dismasted off Ceylon. She sailed to Mauritius for repairs.[13] On reaching Mauritius (then known as Isle de France) Holsten was condemned as unseaworthy.[1]

The DAC replaced her, in December 1806, with the purchase from the French at Mauritius the recently captured East Indiaman Warren Hastings, which the Company then renamed Holsten.[1][Note 2]

Namesakes edit

At least two other ships have borne similar names"

  • Store Bælt (1875–1912), a gunboat.[14]
  • Storebælt (1995–1999), a patrol vessel.[14]
Drawing for Det Store Bælt, c. 1782.

Notes edit

  1. ^ The original designs of the figurehead and ornamentation of the gallery are available at this reference by clicking "vis"
  2. ^ CAVEAT: Differing sources report 1805, perhaps 1806, or 1807 as the year of demise. The first two editors here have concluded the true year is 1807 - see Talk page

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Marcussen - Holsten (I) record card
  2. ^ a b c d e Royal Danish Naval Museum - Det Store Bælt
  3. ^ Lange. Nanna. "Den Bodenhoffske Slægtsbo" (PDF). Slægtsforskernes Bibliotek (in Danish). Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Det Store Bælt (1782)" (in Danish). Trap Danmark. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Store Bælt / Store Belt" (in Danish). jmarcussen.dk. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  6. ^ Topsøe-Jensen Vol 2 p 102
  7. ^ Topsøe-Jensen Vol 1 p 199
  8. ^ Topsøe-Jensen Vol 2 p 654
  9. ^ Topsøe-Jensen Vol 1 p 569
  10. ^ Topsøe-Jensen Vol 2 p 103
  11. ^ "Hans Lindholm[1]". finnholbek.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  12. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4225. 14 June 1805. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735022. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  13. ^ "SHIP NEWS". Morning Chronicle (London, England), Monday, 21 September 1807; Issue 11964.
  14. ^ a b Balsved

Citations edit