HMS Defence (1815)

HMS Defence was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 25 April 1815 at Chatham.[1]

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

Defence
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Defence
Ordered23 March 1809
BuilderChatham Dockyard
Laid downMay 1812
Launched25 April 1815
FateBurnt, 1857
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeVengeur-class ship of the line
Tons burthen1754 bm
Length176 ft (54 m) (gundeck)
Beam47 ft 6 in (14.48 m)
Depth of hold21 ft (6.4 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 74 guns:
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 4 × 12 pdrs, 10 × 32 pdr carronades
  • Forecastle: 2 × 12 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades
  • Poop deck: 6 × 18 pdr carronades

She was converted to serve as a prison ship in 1849.[1] Defence was badly damaged by an accidental fire, probably caused by spontaneous combustion in a recently delivered load of coal,[2] at Woolwich on 14 July 1857.[3]</ref> The fire was extinguished by scuttling the ship.[2] and while it was not totally destroyed the remains were broken up later.[3]

Sectional view of the interior of the Defence Hulk, (The Woolwich prison ships)
The Defence hulk and the Unite convict hospital ship, off Woolwich

Citations
  1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol. 1, p. 189.
  2. The Hobart Town Mercury, 30 Oct 1857, p2
  3. Gosset (1986), p. 114.

References
  • Gosset, William Patrick (1986). The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. Mansell. ISBN 0-7201-1816-6.
  • 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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