Swiftsure, by Isaac Sailmaker
History
Royal Navy EnsignGreat Britain
NameHMS Swiftsure
BuilderDeane, Harwich
Launched1673
RenamedHMS Revenge, 1718
FateSold, 1787
Notes
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type70-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen978 bm
Length123 ft (37 m) (keel)
Beam38 ft 8 in (11.79 m)
Depth of hold15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament70 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1696 rebuild[2]
Class and type66-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen987 tons bm
Length148 ft (45 m) (gundeck)
Beam39 ft (12 m)
Depth of hold14 ft (4.3 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament66 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1718 rebuild[3]
Class and type1706 Establishment 70-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1104 tons bm
Length150 ft (46 m) (gundeck)
Beam41 ft (12 m)
Depth of hold17 ft 4 in (5.28 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 70 guns:
  • Gundeck: 26 × 24 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 26 × 12 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 6 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 6 pdrs
General characteristics after 1742 rebuild[4]
Class and type1733 proposals 70-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1258 tons bm
Length151 ft (46 m) (gundeck)
Beam43 ft 5 in (13.23 m)
Depth of hold17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 70 guns:
  • Gundeck: 26 × 24 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 26 × 12 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 6 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 6 pdrs

HMS Swiftsure was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Sir Anthony Deane at Harwich, and launched in 1673. By 1685 she had been reduced to a 66-gun ship.[1]

In 1692 she saw action at the Battles of Barfleur and La Hogue.

She was rebuilt by Snelgrove of Deptford in 1696 as a 66-gun third rate.[2] In 1707, she belonged to Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's fleet. 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. Swiftsure suffered little to no damage and finally managed to reach Portsmouth. She underwent a second rebuild at Woolwich Dockyard, relaunching on 20 November 1718 as a 70-gun third rate of the 1706 Establishment. She was renamed HMS Revenge at this time.[3] On 25 February 1740 Revenge was ordered to be taken to pieces at Deptford, and to be rebuilt as a 70-gun third rate to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment. She was relaunched on 23 May 1742.[4]

Revenge was sold out of the navy in 1787.[4]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Lavery, The Ship of the Line vol.1, p161.
  2. 1 2 Lavery, The Ship of the Line vol.1, p165.
  3. 1 2 Lavery, The Ship of the Line vol.1, p168.
  4. 1 2 3 Lavery, The Ship of the Line vol.1, p171.
  5. ↑ Sobel, Dava, Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time, Fourth Estate Ltd., London 1998, p. 6, ISBN 1-85702-571-7

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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