HMS Penzance (1695)

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

HMS Penzance was a member of the standardized 20-gun sixth rates built at the end of the 17th century. After commissioning she spent her career in Home Waters with a foray to the Moroccan coast. Mainly employed as a trade protection vessel. She was sold in 1713.

History
England
Name	HMS Penzance
Ordered	11 May 1694
Builder	Thomas Ellis, Shoreham
Launched	22 April 1695
Commissioned	Spring 1695
Fate	Sold 24 September 1713
General characteristics
Type	20-gun Sixth Rate
Tons burthen	253+69⁄94 bm
Length	94 ft 3 in (28.7 m) gundeck 77 ft 10.5 in (23.7 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	24 ft 9 in (7.5 m) for tonnage
Depth of hold	10 ft 9 in (3.3 m)
Armament	initially as ordered 20 × sakers on wooden trucks (UD) 4 × 3-pdr on wooden trucks (QD) 1703 Establishment 20 × 6-pdrs on wooden trucks (UD) 4 × 4-pdr on wooden trucks (QD)

Penzance was the first named vessel in the Royal Navy.

Construction

She was ordered in the Second Batch of eight ships to be built under contract by Thomas Ellis of Shoreham. She was launched on 22 April 1695.

Commissioned service

Commissioning in the Spring of 1695 under Captain Horatio Townsend, RN, who oversaw her fitting out in July 1695. On 29 January 1696 Captain John Cooper took command, followed by Captain John Aston on 7 May 1697 for service in Ireland. Captain Aston was dismissed on 6 March 1698. In 1699, Captain Richard Wyatt took command for Sale, Morocco in 1700. During 1701 thru 1704 she was under the command of Commander Thomas Lawrence, RN while serving in the Irish Channel. From 1705 thru 1707 she was under the command of Robert Studely, RN remaining in the Irish channel. Commsnder John Parr, RN commanded her during 1708 through 1712 for service in the North Sea. She was laid up at Deptford by Admiralty Order (AO) 22 February 1712.

Loss

HMS Penzance was sold to John Bevois for £493 on 24 September 1713.

References

• 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, Penzance
• 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 P (Penzance)