HMS Defence (1815)

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

HMS Defence was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 25 April 1815 at Chatham.

Defence
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Defence
Ordered	23 March 1809
Builder	Chatham Dockyard
Laid down	May 1812
Launched	25 April 1815
Fate	Burnt, 1857
General characteristics
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	Sail
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

History

HMS Defence was ordered on 23 March 1809 and laid down in May 1812 at Chatham Dockyard. She was launched on 25 April 1815 and served as a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line.

In 1849, she was converted to serve as a prison ship. On 14 July 1857, Defence was badly damaged by an accidental fire at Woolwich, likely caused by spontaneous combustion in a recently delivered load of coal. The fire was extinguished by scuttling the ship, and the remains were subsequently broken up later that year.

Sectional view of the interior of the Defence Hulk, (The Woolwich prison ships)

The Defence hulk and the Unite convict hospital ship, off Woolwich

References

• Lavery, Brian (2003). The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. p. 189. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
• Gosset, William Patrick (1986). The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. Mansell. p. 114. ISBN 0-7201-1816-6.

External links

• Media related to HMS Defence (ship, 1815) at Wikimedia Commons