HMS Swiftsure (1804)

HMS Swiftsure was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched from Bucklers Hard on 23 July 1804.[1] She fought at Trafalgar.

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

Swiftsure
History
UK
Name: HMS Swiftsure
Ordered: 1800
Builder: Henry Adams, Bucklers Hard
Laid down: February 1802
Launched: 23 July 1804
Honours and
awards:
Fate: Sold out of the service, 1845
Notes: Receiving ship from 1819
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: Swiftsure class ship of the line
Tons burthen: 1724 (bm)
Length: 173 ft (53 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 47 ft 6 in (14.48 m)
Depth of hold: 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament:
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounder guns
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18-pounder guns
  • QD: 14 × 9-pounder guns
  • Fc: 4 × 9-pounder guns

The French 74-gun ship Swiftsure also took part in the battle. She had originally been a British ship that the French had captured in 1801.

Swiftsure became a receiving ship in 1819,[1] In September 1844, she heeled over and sank at Portchester, Hampshire.[2] In November 1844, she was in use as a target ship by HMS Excellent.[3] She was sold out of the service in 1845.[1]

Barker family memorial in St Peter's Church, Edensor with reference to HMS Swiftsure and Trafalgar
Swiftsure becalmed near Algeciras, sketched by one of her midshipmen, John Theophilus Lee in 1795

Notes
  1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p185.
  2. "Naval Intelligence". The Times (18727). London. 27 September 1844. col C, p. 8.
  3. "Naval Intelligence". The Times (18771). London. 18 November 1844. col E, p. 7.

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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