HMS Rodney (1809)

History
UK
Name:	HMS Rodney
Ordered:	28 May 1808
Builder:	Barnard, Deptford
Laid down:	March 1808
Launched:	8 December 1809
Fate:	Sold, 1836
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:	Vengeur-class ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1754 (bm)
Length:	176 ft (54 m) (gundeck)
Beam:	47 ft 6 in (14.48 m)
Depth of hold:	21 ft (6.4 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full 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

HMS Rodney was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 8 December 1809 at Deptford.^[1]

The Dockyard was suffering from a shortage of seasoned timber at the time Rodney was being built. In consequence the hull was built from unseasoned wood which quickly shrunk and rotted when exposed to seawater. After just three years at sea all of the hull fastenings had given way and Rodney was returned to Deptford for decommissioning.^[2]

In 1827 she was reduced to a 50-gun ship, and in 1836 Rodney was sold out of the Navy.^[1]

Notes

References

• Albion, Robert Greenhalgh (2000). Forests and Sea Power: The Timber Problem of the Royal Navy, 1652-1862. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1557500215. 
• 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.