HMS Venus (1758)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain
| |
| Name: | HMS Venus |
| Ordered: | 13 July 1756 |
| Builder: | John Okill, Liverpool |
| Laid down: | 16 August 1756 |
| Launched: | 11 March 1758 |
| Completed: | 30 June 1758 |
| Commissioned: | March 1758 |
| Fate: | Sold to break up at Deptford, 22 September 1828 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Venus-class fifth-rate frigate |
| Tons burthen: | 722 29⁄94 bm |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 35 ft 9 in (10.90 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 12 ft 4 in (3.76 m) |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement: | 240 officers and men (215 from 1792) |
| Armament: | |
HMS Venus (later named HMS Heroine) was the name ship of the 36-gun Venus-class fifth-rate frigates of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1758 and served for more than half a century until 1809, although she was reduced from 36 guns to 32 guns in 1792.
Career
On the 18th of May 1759, Venus, HMS Thames, and HMS Chatham, were in company when Venus intercepted the French frigate Arethuse near Audierne Bay (Baie d'Audierne (French)).[1] After a two hour chase, Arethuse lost her top masts and was overtaken. Thames and Venus engaged her with heavy fire, causing 60 casualties before she surrendered.[1] Arethuse subsequently had a lengthy career as HMS Arethusa.
Napoleonic Wars
On the morning of 10 July 1805, Venus encountered the French privateer brig Hirondelle. After a chase of 65 miles, during which Hirondelle threw two of her 6-pounder guns overboard, Venus succeeded in capturing her quarry. Hirondelle, of Dunkirk, was armed with four 6-pounder guns and twelve 3-pounder guns, and had a crew of 90 men. She left Gigeon, Spain, on 27 June, but had not captured anything. However, on prior cruise, she had captured several vessels, most notably the Falmouth packet Queen Charlotte, which had resisted for some two hours before striking her colours.[2]
On 18 January 1807 Venus captured the French privateer brig Determinée of Guadeloupe, one hundred leagues east of Barbados after a chase of 16 hours. Determinée had a crew of 108 men and was pierced for 20 guns but carried only 14.[3] The British took her into service as Netley.
Venus was renamed Heroine in 1809.[4] Hood Hanway Christian commanded HMS Heroine from March to November 1809.[5] The 32-gun frigate participated in the reduction of Flushing in 1809 during the Walcheren Campaign.[6] In this engagement the Heroine was part of a squadron of ten frigates under the command of Captain Lord William Stuart. On 11 August 1809 this squadron sailed up the western Scheldt under a light wind, suffering minor damage from the shore batteries of Flushing and Cadzand. Two men were wounded on the Heroine.[7]
Fate
Heroine was used for harbor service from 1817. The hulk was sold on 22 September 1828.[4]
Citations
- 1 2 "Extract of a letter from Captain Lockhart". The London Chronicle. 29 May 1759.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 15827. p. 955. 23 July 1805.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 16014. p. 394. 23 March 1807.
- 1 2 Colledge 1969, p. 587.
- ↑ Hood Hanway Christian - Three Decks.
- ↑ Marshall 1827, p. 119.
- ↑ James 1826, p. 197-199.
References
- Colledge, J. J. (1969). Ships of the Royal Navy: Major ships (excluding trawlers, drifters, tugs, etc.). David & Charles. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- Gardiner, Robert The First Frigates, Conway Maritime Press, London 1992. ISBN 0-85177-601-9.
- "Hood Hanway Christian". Three Decks. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- James, William (1826). The naval history of Great Britain, from ... 1793, to ... 1820, with an account of the origin and increase of the British navy. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- Lyon, David The Sailing Navy List, Conway Maritime Press, London 1993. ISBN 0-85177-617-5.
- Marshall, John (1827). Royal Naval Biography Supplement: Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-Officers, Superannuated Rear-Admirals, Retired-Captains, Post-Captains, and Commanders. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-02272-9. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- Winfield, Rif British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1714 to 1792, Seaforth Publishing, London 2007. ISBN 978-1-84415-700-6.
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