HMS Charles (1668)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Charles and HMS St George.
History
Great Britain
Name: HMS Charles
Builder: Christopher Pett and Jonas Shish, Deptford Dockyard
Launched: 10 March 1668
Renamed: HMS St George, 1701
Fate: Broken up, 1774
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type: 96-gun first-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 1229 bm
Length: 128 ft (39 m) (keel)
Beam: 42 ft 6 in (12.95 m)
Depth of hold: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament: 96 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1701 rebuild[2]
Class and type: 90-gun second-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 1470 bm
Length: 162 ft 6 in (49.53 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 45 ft 5 in (13.84 m)
Depth of hold: 18 ft 7 in (5.66 m)
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament: 90 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1740 rebuild[3]
Class and type: 1733 proposals 90-gun second-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 1655 bm
Length: 166 ft (51 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 47 ft 9 in (14.55 m)
Depth of hold: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament:
  • 90 guns:
  • Gundeck: 26 × 32 pdrs
  • Middle gundeck: 26 × 18 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 26 × 9 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 10 × 6 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 2 × 6 pdrs

HMS Charles was a 96-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Christopher Pett at Deptford Dockyard until his death in March 1668, then completed by Jonas Shish after being launched in the same month. Her name was formally Charles the Second, but she was known simply as Charles, particularly after 1673 when the contemporary Royal Charles was launched.[1]

The Charles was renamed HMS St George in 1687 and reclassified as a second rate in 1691. In 1699-1701 she was rebuilt at Portsmouth Dockyard as a 90-gun second rate.[2] In 1707, she belonged to Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's fleet. Under the command of Captain James Lord Dursley,[4] she saw action during the unsuccessful Battle of Toulon and was present during the great naval disaster off the Isles of Scilly when Shovell and four of his ships (Association, Firebrand, Romney and Eagle) were lost, claiming the lives of nearly 2,000[5] sailors. St George also struck rocks off Scilly, but managed to get off.

The St George was taken to pieces at Portsmouth in 1726 to be rebuilt again. On 4 September 1733, St George was ordered to be rebuilt to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment. She was relaunched on 3 April 1740.[3]

She was eventually broken up in September 1774.[3]

Notes

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.
  • Winfield, Rif (2009) British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603-1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6.
  • Winfield, Rif (2007) British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84415-700-6.


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