HMS Achilles (1757)
Encyclopedia
HMS Achilles was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line
of the Royal Navy
, built by Barnard and Turner at Harwich
to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment
as amended in 1750, and launched in 1757. She was ordered in November 1755. HMS Achilles was a Dunkirk-class fourth rate, along with HMS Dunkirk
and HMS America
.
in pursuit of the 64-gun French ship Raisonnable
. The Dorsetshire engaged the Raisonnable first, followed by the Achilles. After sustaining 35 casualties, Raisonnable was taken and later purchased for the navy as HMS Raisonnable.
On 4 April 1759 Achilles engaged and captured the 60-gun French privateer
, Comte de St. Florentine in a two hour battle. The Achilles sustained 25 casualties - 2 killed and 23 wounded. The Comte de St. Florentine was later brought into the Royal Navy
as HMS St. Florentine.
Later that year, the Achilles was the flagship
of Rear-Admiral George Rodney
when he sailed to L'Havre on 3 July. The fleet of four 50-gun ships along with 5 frigates, a sloop and 6 bomb ketches destroyed landing barges assembled in the harbour for a possible invasion of England. The Achilles remained at L'Havre for the rest of the year.
On 28 March 1762 the Achilles, along with several other warships and transports carrying 10,000 troops, set sail from Saint Helens
to attack the French at Belleisle. The fleet arrived on 7 April and anchored in the Palais road. The next day the army attempted a landing under the cover of the Achilless guns. The attack was forced back and the army lost 500 soldiers killed, wounded or captured. The army finally landed successfully on 22 April, and besieged the French in le Palais until 7 June - when the French surrendered.
Achilles became the guardship at Portsmouth
in 1763. Achilles was hulked in 1782 and sold on 1 June 1784.
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, built by Barnard and Turner at Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment
1745 Establishment
The 1745 Establishment was the third and final formal establishment of dimensions for ships to be built for the Royal Navy. It completely superseded the previous 1719 Establishment, which had subsequently been modified in 1733 and again in 1741...
as amended in 1750, and launched in 1757. She was ordered in November 1755. HMS Achilles was a Dunkirk-class fourth rate, along with HMS Dunkirk
HMS Dunkirk (1754)
HMS Dunkirk was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Woolwich Dockyard to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment as amended in 1750, and launched on 22 July 1754.-Career:...
and HMS America
HMS America (1757)
HMS America was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Wells and Stanton at Rotherhithe and launched on 21 May 1757.From 1758 to 1760, America was under the command of a Captain James Kirk.She was broken up in 1771....
.
Career
HMS Achilles was launched on 6 February 1757 at Harwich. In 1758, she was detached along with HMS DorsetshireHMS Dorsetshire (1757)
HMS Dorsetshire was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Chatham Dockyard to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment, amended in 1754, and launched on 13 December 1757....
in pursuit of the 64-gun French ship Raisonnable
French ship Raisonnable (1755)
Raisonnable was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1755.On 29 May 1758, she was captured by and , and commissioned in the Royal Navy as the third rate HMS Raisonnable. She was lost off Martinique on 3 February 1762....
. The Dorsetshire engaged the Raisonnable first, followed by the Achilles. After sustaining 35 casualties, Raisonnable was taken and later purchased for the navy as HMS Raisonnable.
On 4 April 1759 Achilles engaged and captured the 60-gun French privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
, Comte de St. Florentine in a two hour battle. The Achilles sustained 25 casualties - 2 killed and 23 wounded. The Comte de St. Florentine was later brought into the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as HMS St. Florentine.
Later that year, the Achilles was the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of Rear-Admiral George Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, KB was a British naval officer. He is best known for his commands in the American War of Independence, particularly his victory over the French at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782...
when he sailed to L'Havre on 3 July. The fleet of four 50-gun ships along with 5 frigates, a sloop and 6 bomb ketches destroyed landing barges assembled in the harbour for a possible invasion of England. The Achilles remained at L'Havre for the rest of the year.
On 28 March 1762 the Achilles, along with several other warships and transports carrying 10,000 troops, set sail from Saint Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
to attack the French at Belleisle. The fleet arrived on 7 April and anchored in the Palais road. The next day the army attempted a landing under the cover of the Achilless guns. The attack was forced back and the army lost 500 soldiers killed, wounded or captured. The army finally landed successfully on 22 April, and besieged the French in le Palais until 7 June - when the French surrendered.
Achilles became the guardship at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
in 1763. Achilles was hulked in 1782 and sold on 1 June 1784.