HMS Gloucester (1711)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Gloucester.

HMS Gloucester was a 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line built at Deptford by Joseph Allin the elder for the Royal Navy in 1710/11. She participated in the War of the Spanish Succession. The ship was burned to prevent capture after she was damaged in a storm during Commodore George Anson's voyage around the world in 1742.

Gloucester
History
Great Britain
Name	Gloucester
Ordered	29 July 1710
Builder	Deptford Dockyard
Launched	4 October 1711
Commissioned	1711
Fate	Burned to avoid capture, 1742
General characteristics (as built)
Class & type	1706 Establishment 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	714 34⁄94 bm
Length	130 ft 8 in (39.8 m) (Gundeck)
Beam	35 ft 3 in (10.7 m)
Depth of hold	14 ft (4.3 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	185–280
Armament	50 guns: Gundeck: 22 × 18-pdr cannon Upper gundeck: 22 × 6-pdr cannon Quarterdeck: 4 × 6-pdr cannon Forecastle: 4 × 6-pdr cannon
General characteristics after 1737 rebuild
Class & type	1733 proposals 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	863 tons bm
Length	134 ft (40.8 m) (gundeck)
Beam	38 ft 6 in (11.7 m)
Depth of hold	15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	50 guns: Gundeck: 22 × 18-pdrs Upper gundeck: 22 × 9-pdrs Quarterdeck: 4 × 6-pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 6-pdrs

Description

Gloucester had a length at the gundeck of 130 feet 8 inches (39.8 m) and 108 feet 1 inch (32.9 m) at the keel. She had a beam of 35 feet 3 inches (10.7 m) and a depth of hold of 14 feet (4.3 m). The ship's tonnage was 714 34⁄94 tons burthen.^[1] Gloucester was armed with twenty-two 18-pounder cannon on her main gundeck, twenty-two 9-pounder cannon on her upper gundeck, and four 6-pounder cannon each on the quarterdeck and forecastle.^[2] The ship had a crew of 185–280 officers and ratings.^[3]

Construction and career

Gloucester, named after the eponymous port, was the fourth ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy.^[4] She was ordered on 29 July 1710 and was built by Master Shipwright Joseph Allin to the 1706 Establishment of dimensions at Deptford Dockyard.^[2] The ship was launched on 4 October 1711 and commissioned that same year under Captain James Carlton for service in the English Channel.^[1]

Gloucester was ordered to be dismantled to be rebuilt to the dimensions of the 1719 Establishment at Sheerness on 6 November 1724 and this was completed on 20 January 1725.^[1] The rebuilding was suspended until 22 May 1733 when the ship was reordered to the 1733 revisions; she was relaunched on 22 March 1737.^[5]

Fate

In 1742 Gloucester was damaged in a storm under Captain Matthew Michell, and she was burned in order to avoid her being captured.^[5]