Falmouth had a length at the gundeck of 130 feet (39.6 m) and 107 feet (32.6 m) at the keel. She had a beam of 35 feet 1 inch (10.7 m) and a depth of hold of 14 feet (4.3 m). The ship's tonnage was 700 45⁄94 tons burthen. Officially rated at 50 guns, her armament consisted of 22 twelve-pounder guns on the lower gundeck and 22 six-pounder guns on the upper deck. On the quarterdeck were 8 six-pounder guns with another pair on the forecastle. The ship had a crew of 185–280 officers and ratings.[3]
When rebuilt in 1724, Falmouth had a length at the gundeck of 134 feet 2 inches (40.9 m) and 109 feet (33.2 m) at the keel. She had a beam of 36 feet 1 inch (11.0 m) and a depth of hold of 15 feet 2 inches (4.6 m). The ship's tonnage was 760 61⁄94 tons burthen. Her armament was upgraded and now consisted of 22 eighteen-pounder guns on the lower gundeck and 22 nine-pounder guns on the upper deck. The number of six-pounder guns on the quarterdeck was reduced to four, but the pair on the forecastle were retained. The ship now had a crew of 280 officers and ratings.[4]
Construction and career
Falmouth was the third ship in the Royal Navy to be named after the eponymous port.[5] Built to the 1706 Establishment design, the ship was ordered on 8 February 1707. She was built at Woolwich Dockyard under the direction of Master Shipwright Richard Stacey, and was launched on 26 February 1708[6]
On 14 May 1724 Falmouth was ordered to be taken to pieces and rebuilt according to the 1719 Establishment at Woolwich Dockyard, from where she was relaunched on 3 April 1729.[2]
Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line – Volume 1: The Development of the Battlefleet 1650–1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-252-8.
Winfield, Rif (2009) British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-040-6.
Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84415-700-6.