HMS Falcon was a member of the standardized 20-gun sixth rates built at the end of the 17th century. She had a very brief career in the Royal Navy as she was captured shortly after commissioning by two French ships. She was recaptured in 1703 then broken.[1]
| History | |
|---|---|
 England | |
| Name | HMS Falcon |
| Ordered | 28 March 1694 |
| Builder | Nicholas Barret (of Wapping), Shoreham |
| Launched | 28 September 1694 |
| Commissioned | 13 October 1694 |
| Captured | 10 June 1695 |
| Fate | Taken by French, then retaken 1703 and broken |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | 20-gun Sixth Rate |
| Tons burthen | 248+27⁄94 bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 24 ft 6.5 in (7.5 m) for tonnage |
| Depth of hold | 10 ft 8 in (3.3 m) |
| Armament |
|
Falcon was the twelfth named vessel since it was used for a ballinger dating from 1343 and sold in 1352.[2]
Construction
editShe was ordered in the Second Batch of eight ships to be built under contract by Nicholas Barret of Shoreham. She was launched on 28 September 1694.[3]
Commissioned service
editShe was commissioned on 13 October 1694 under the command of Captain Henry Middleton, RN.[4]
Disposition
editHMS Falcon was taken on 10 June 1695 by the French 40-gun Le Sainte-Antoine and the 24-gun Le Tigre off Dodman Point. She was retaken by the British in 1703 and broken.[5]
Citations
editReferences
edit- Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2009, EPUB ISBN 9781783469246, Chapter 6, The Sixth Rates, Vessels acquired from 18 December 1688, Sixth Rates of 20 guns and up to 26 guns, Maidstone Group, Falcon
- Colledge, 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, e ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7 (EPUB), Section F (Falcon)