HMS Talavera was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 15 October 1818 at Woolwich Dockyard.[1] She was named for the British/Spanish victory at the Battle of Talavera.

Talavera
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Talavera
Ordered15 February 1814
BuilderWoolwich Dockyard
Laid downJuly 1814
Launched15 October 1818
FateBurnt, 1840
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeRepulse-class ship of the line
Tons burthen1718 bm
Length174 ft (53 m) (gundeck)
Beam47 ft 4 in (14.43 m)
Depth of hold20 ft (6.1 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 74 guns:
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 9 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs
The Fire on the morning of 27 September, which destroyed Talavera and threatened to destroy Devonport dockyard

She was destroyed in 1840[1] at Devonport dockyard in a large scale fire on 25 September 1840, which started in the North Dock. Talavera and Imogene were completely gutted, the fire spread to HMS Minden whose fire was successfully put out, and to nearby buildings and equipment. Estimates for the damage were put at £150,000 in then money, and would have totalled £500,000 had the fire not been contained.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p189.
  2. ^ "Dreadful Fire at Devonport". London: The Morning Chronicle. 25 September 1840. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.

References

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  • 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.