HMS Falcon (1704)

HMS Falcon was a 32-gun fifth rate built at Deptford Dockyard in 1703/04. Her initial assignment was with Sir Cloudesley Shovell's Fleet. She was then assigned to the Mediterranean where she was taken by the French in 1709.

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

History
Royal Navy EnsignEngland
NameHMS Falcon
Ordered16 March 1703
BuilderDeptford Dockyard
Launched2 December 1704
Commissioned1 December 1704
Captured29 December 1709
FateTaken off Toulon by a French Squadron
General characteristics as built
Class and type32-gun fifth rate
Tons burthen41153⁄94 tons (bm)
Length
  • 106 ft 5 in (32.44 m) gundeck
  • 88 ft 5 in (26.95 m) keel for tonnage
Beam29 ft 7 in (9.02 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement145/110
Armament
  • as built 32 guns
  • 4/4 x demi-culverins (LD)
  • 22/20 x 6-pdr guns (UD)
  • 6/4 x 4-pdr guns (QD)
Notesthe demi-culverins would be changed for 12-pdr guns later

Falcon was the thirteenth vessel to bear this name since it was used for a ballinger dating from 1343 and sold in 1352.[1]

Construction and Specifications

Falcon was ordered on 16 March 1703 to be built at Deptford Dockyard under the guidance of Master Shipwright Fisher Harding. She was launched on 2 December 1704. Her dimensions were a gundeck of 106 feet 5 inches (32.44 metres) with a keel of 88 feet 5 inches (26.95 metres) for tonnage calculation with a breadth of 29 feet 7 inches (9.02 metres) and a depth of hold of 13 feet 0 inches (3.96 metres). Her builder's measure tonnage was calculated as 41153⁄94 tons (burthen).[2]

The gun armament initially was four demi-culverins[3][Note 1] on the lower deck (LD) with two pair of guns per side. The upper deck (UD) battery would consist of between twenty and twenty-two 6-pounder guns[4][Note 2] with ten or eleven guns per side. The gun battery would be completed by four 4-pounder guns[5][Note 3] on the quarterdeck (QD) with two to three guns per side.[6]

Commissioned Service 1702-1709

Falcon was commissioned on 1 December 1704 under the command of Captain Charles Stewart then assigned to Sir Cloudesley Shovell's Fleet. Captain Bartholomew Candler was assigned as her commander on 27 January 1706. On 30 April 1706 Captain Robert Delvall assumed command for service in the Mediterranean. Captain Delvall dies on 29 January 1708. Captain William Massam took command on 17 May 1708 and held this command until his suicide on 2 October 1708. Captain Charles Constable took command after Captain Massam's death[2].In consort with Pembroke. they were detached to cruise between Toulon and Corsica.[7]

Loss

Falcon was taken along with Pembroke by a French squadron off Toulon on 29 December 1709. She struck her colours when only 16 members of her crew were left unwounded.[2][8]

Notes
  1. A demi-culverin was a gun of 3,400 pounds with a four inch bore firing a 9.5 pound shot with an eight pound powder charge
  2. A 6-ponder was a Dutch gun used to replace the saker
  3. A minion renamed the 4-pounder was a gun of 1,000 pounds with a 3.5 inch bore firing a 4 pound shot with an 4 pound powder charge.

Citations
  1. Colledge (2020)
  2. Winfred 2009, Ch 5, The Fifth Rates, Vessels acquired from 16 December 1688, Fifth Rates of 32 and 36 guns, Tartar Group, Falcon
  3. Lavery (1989), Part V, Ch 18, demi-culverins, page 101
  4. Lavery (1989), Part V, Ch 18, The 6-pounder, page 102
  5. Lavery (1989), Part V, Ch 18, Minion or 4-pounder, page 103
  6. Winfred 2009, Ch 5, The Fifth Rates, Vessels acquired from 16 December 1688, Fifth Rates of 32 and 36 guns, Tartar Group
  7. Clowes (1898), Chapter XXIV, page 523
  8. Clowes (1898), Chapter XXIV, page 523

References
  • Winfield (2009), British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2009, EPUB ISBN 978-1-78346-924-6
  • Colledge (2020), Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © 2020, EPUB ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7
  • Lavery (1989), The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War 1600 - 1815, by Brian Lavery, published by US Naval Institute Press © Brian Lavery 1989, ISBN 978-0-87021-009-9, Part V Guns, Type of Guns
  • Clowes (1898), The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to the Present (Vol. II). London. England: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, © 1898
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