HMS Portland was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Woolwich Dockyard on 28 March 1693.[1]

History
Royal Navy EnsignGreat Britain
NameHMS Portland
BuilderLawrence, Woolwich Dockyard
Launched28 March 1693
FateBroken up, 1743
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen636
Length125 ft 6 in (38.3 m) (gundeck)
Beam34 ft (10.4 m)
Depth of hold14 ft (4.3 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament50 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1723 rebuild[2]
Class and type1719 Establishment 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen772
Length134 ft (40.8 m) (gundeck)
Beam36 ft (11.0 m)
Depth of hold15 ft 2 in (4.6 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 50 guns:
  • Gundeck: 22 × 18 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 22 × 9 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 4 × 6 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 2 × 6 pdrs

She was rebuilt according to the 1719 Establishment at Portsmouth, and was relaunched on 25 February 1723.

She was present at Wager's Action a naval confrontation on 8 June 1708 N.S (28 May O.S.), between a British squadron under Charles Wager and the Spanish treasure fleet, as part of the War of Spanish Succession.[3]

On 17 March 1709, Portland recaptured Coventry, which the 54-gun Auguste and the 54-gun Jason (1704) had captured in September 1704.[4]

In July 1739 Edward Hawke, who later became the First Lord of the Admiralty, became the commander of Portland until 1743.[5]

Portland was broken up later that same year.[6]

Wager's Action off Cartagena, 28 May 1708

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p164.
  2. ^ Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p170.
  3. ^ "Wager's Action off Cartagena, 28 May 1708". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  4. ^ Roche (2005), pp.134 and 57.
  5. ^ Wiki-Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke
  6. ^ Colledge, p. 274

References edit