HMS Blenheim (1813)
Blenheim, c. 1855 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | Blenheim |
| Ordered | 4 January 1808 |
| Builder | Deptford Dockyard |
| Laid down | August 1808 |
| Launched | 31 May 1813 |
| Commissioned | June 1813 |
| Fate | Broken up, 1865 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class & type | Vengeur-class ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1,757 71⁄94 (bm) |
| Length | 176 ft 2 in (53.7 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 47 ft 8 in (14.5 m) |
| Draught | 17 ft 8 in (5.4 m) (light) |
| Depth of hold | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 590 |
| Armament |
|
HMS Blenheim was a 74-gun third rate Vengeur-class ship of the line built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 19th century. Completed in 1813, she played a minor role in the Napoleonic Wars.
Blenheim was placed on harbour service in 1831. Her captain, Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, died on board Blenheim in the morning of 13 June 1841, from fever contracted during operations in Canton, China, in May 1841.
On 20 March 1847, Blenheim was in collision with the British brig Cactus in the River Thames and was driven ashore on the Essex bank. The tug HMS Monkey attempted to refloat Blenheim, but Blenheim and Monkey collided and Blenheim was driven into the brig Agility, which was severely damaged. Monkey assisted in beaching Agility on the Essex bank to prevent her from sinking. Blenheim subsequently was refloated and taken in to Woolwich, Kent.[1]
Blenheim converted to screw propulsion in 1847.
In 1854–1855 Blenheim saw service in the Baltic Sea as a 60-gun steam screw vessel.[2] During this service a 32-pounder cannonball struck and became embedded in her mast in 1855.
Blenheim was broken up in 1865.[3]
See also
- Patricio Lynch, Chilean sailor on the Blenheim
Notes
References
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben & Bush, Steve (2020). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present (5th revised and updated ed.). Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5267-9327-0.
- Duckers, Peter (2011). The Crimean War at Sea: Naval Campaigns against Russia, 1854-56. Pen & Sword Maritime. ISBN 978-1-84884-267-0.
- Lambert, Andrew D. (1984). Battleships in Transition: The Creation of the Steam Battlefleet 1815-1860. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-315-X.
- Lambert, Andrew D. (1991). The Last Sailing Battlefleet: Maintaining Naval Mastery 1815 - 1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-591-8.
- Lavery, Brian (1984). The Ship of the Line. Vol. 1: The Development of the Battlefleet 1650-1850. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
- Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (2nd, revised ed.). Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84415-717-4.
- Winfield, Rif (2014). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1817–1863: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-169-4.