HMS Severn (1695)

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

HMS Severn was a 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. Built under Sir Henry Johnson's direction at Blackwall Yard, she was launched on 16 September 1695 along with her sister ship HMS Burlington. The commercial contract had originally been agreed with Johnson on 16 November 1693 (for four ships - the Romney and Colchester, as well as the Severn and Burlington), but the latter two were delayed and a fresh contract for them agreed on 7 December 1694.^[1]

Severn plan of the 1739 rebuild
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Severn
Ordered	16 November 1693
Builder	Sir Henry Johnson, Blackwall Yard
Launched	16 September 1695
Commissioned	1696
Captured	1746
General characteristics as built[1]
Class & type	50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	683 41⁄94 bm
Length	131 ft 3 in (40.0 m) (gundeck) 109 ft (33.2 m) (keel)
Beam	34 ft 4 in (10.5 m)
Depth of hold	13 ft 6 in (4.1 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	50 guns: Gundeck: 20 × 12 pdrs Upper gundeck: 22 × 9 pdrs (demi-culverins) Quarterdeck: 6 × 4 pdrs (minions) Forecastle: 2 × 4 pdrs (minions)
General characteristics after 1739 rebuild[2]
Class & type	1733 proposals 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	853 44⁄94 bm
Length	134 ft (40.8 m) (gundeck) 108 ft 3 in (33.0 m) (keel)
Beam	38 ft 6 in (11.7 m)
Depth of hold	15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
Propulsion	Sails
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

On 13 May 1734, orders were issued for Severn to be taken to pieces and rebuilt at Plymouth according to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment. Severn was re-launched on 28 March 1739, and served until 18 October 1746, when (under the command of Captain William Lisle) she was captured by the French 70-gun ships Terrible and Neptune in the Channel, southwest of the Isles of Scilly in defending a homebound convoy.^[2]

Severn (far left), was recaptured by the British at the second Battle of Cape Finisterre on 25 October 1747

Severn was captured back by the British at the second Battle of Cape Finisterre on 25 October 1747; but not taken back into service and instead taken to pieces in that year.

See also

• List of ships captured in the 18th century