HMS Assistance (1650)

HMS Assistance was a 40-gun fourth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy, originally built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Deptford, and launched in 1650. By 1677 her armament had been increased to 48 guns.[1]

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

History
Great Britain
Name: HMS Assistance
Builder: Johnson, Deptford
Launched: 1650
Fate: Sunk as breakwater, 1745
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type: Fourth-rate frigate
Tons burthen: 521 bm
Length: 102 ft (31.1 m) (keel)
Beam: 30 ft 10 in (9.4 m)
Depth of hold: 13 ft (4.0 m)
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament: 40 guns (1660); 48 guns (1677)
General characteristics after 1687 rebuild[2]
Class and type: 48-gun Fourth-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 567 bm
Length: 121 ft 5.5 in (37.0 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 32 ft 4 in (9.9 m)
Depth of hold: 13 ft (4.0 m)
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament: 48 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1699 rebuild[3]
Class and type: 46-54-gun fourth-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 607 bm
Length: 119 ft 7 in (36.4 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 33 ft 3 in (10.1 m)
Depth of hold: 12 ft (3.7 m)
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament: 46-54 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1713 rebuild[4]
Class and type: 1706 Establishment 50-gun Fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 710
Length: 130 ft (39.6 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 35 ft (10.7 m)
Depth of hold: 14 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament:
  • 50 guns:
  • Gundeck: 22 × 18-pounders
  • Upper gundeck: 22 × 9-pounders
  • Quarterdeck: 4 × 6-pounders
  • Forecastle: 2 × 6-pounders
General characteristics after 1725 rebuild[5]
Class and type: 1719 Establishment 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 750 bm
Length: 134 ft (40.8 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 36 ft (11.0 m)
Depth of hold: 15 ft 2 in (4.6 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament:
  • 50 guns:
  • Gundeck: 22 × 18-pounders
  • Upper gundeck: 22 × 9-pounders
  • Quarterdeck: 4 × 6-pounders
  • Forecastle: 2 × 6-pounders

In 1687 Assistance was rebuilt at Deptford as a 48-gun fourth-rate ship of the line.[2] Life aboard her when cruising in the Mediterranean in 1675-6 is described in the diary of Henry Teonge. She was rebuilt for a second time at Deptford in 1699, relaunching as a fourth rate of between 46 and 54 guns.[3] In 1702 she was attached to the squadron of Commodore John Leake for service to Newfoundland at the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession. Leake sent her to destroy the fortifications of the isle of Saint Pierre.[6]

Her third rebuild was carried out at Limehouse, from where she was relaunched on 16 February 1713 as a 50-gun fourth rate to the 1706 Establishment.[4] Assistance was part of the naval task force sent to Scotland to help subdue the Jacobite rising of 1719.

On 21 March 1720 she was ordered to be taken to pieces at Woolwich for what was to be her final rebuild. She relaunched as a 50-gun fourth rate to the 1719 Establishment on 25 November 1725 and sunk as a breakwater in 1745.[5]

Notes
  1. Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 160.
  2. Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol.1 , p. 163.
  3. Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 167.
  4. Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 168.
  5. Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 170.
  6. Godfrey, Michael (1979) [1969]. "Leake, John". In Hayne, David (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. II (1701–1740) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. Retrieved 31 March 2010.

References
  • 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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