HMS Talavera (1818)

HMS Talavera was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 15 October 1818 at Woolwich Dockyard.[1] She was named for the British/Spanish victory at the Battle of Talavera.

The Fire on the morning of 27 September, which destroyed Talavera and threatened to destroy Devonport dockyard

Talavera
History
UK
Name:	HMS Talavera
Ordered:	15 February 1814
Builder:	Woolwich Dockyard
Laid down:	July 1814
Launched:	15 October 1818
Fate:	Burnt, 1840
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:	Repulse-class ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1718 bm
Length:	174 ft (53 m) (gundeck)
Beam:	47 ft 4 in (14.43 m)
Depth of hold:	20 ft (6.1 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full-rigged ship
Armament:	74 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs Quarterdeck: 14 × 9 pdrs Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs

She was destroyed in 1840[1] at Devonport dockyard in a large scale fire on 25 September 1840, which started in the North Dock. Talavera and Imogene were completely gutted, the fire spread to the HMS Minden whose fire was successfully put out, and to nearby buildings and equipment. Estimates for the damage were put at £150,000 in then money, and would have totalled £500,000 had the fire not been contained.[2]

Notes

1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p189.
2. "Dreadful Fire at Devonport". London: The Morning Chronicle. 25 September 1840. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.

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.