HMS Severn (1695)

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

HMS Severn (sometimes spelt "Severne") was a 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Sir Henry Johnson's Blackwall Yard on 16 September 1695 (along with her sistership, the 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.

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
Class and 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
Class and 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.

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

References

• Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line – Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
• Winfield, Rif (1997), The 50-Gun Ship: A Complete History. Chatham Publishing (1st edition); Mercury Books (2nd edition 2005). ISBN 1-845600-09-6.
• Winfield, Rif (2009) British Warships in the Age of Sail: 1603-1714. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6.
• Winfield, Rif (2007) British Warships in the Age of Sail: 1714-1792. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84415-700-6.

External links

• Media related to HMS Severn (ship, 1695) at Wikimedia Commons