HMS Southampton (1693)

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

History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Southampton
Ordered	13 July 1692
Builder	John Winter, Southampton
Launched	10 June 1693
Fate	Broken up, 1771
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type	50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	608 83⁄94 bm
Length	121 ft 9 in (37.1 m) (gundeck) 100 ft (30.5 m) (keel
Beam	33 ft 10 in (10.3 m)
Depth of hold	13 ft 9 in (4.2 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 1700 rebuild[2]
Class and type	54-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	635 88⁄94 bm
Length	122 ft 3 in (37.3 m) (gundeck) 102 ft 2 in (31.1 m) (keel)
Beam	34 ft 2.5 in (10.4 m)
Depth of hold	13 ft 2 in (4.0 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	54 guns of various weights of shot

HMS Southampton was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, ordered to be built by commercial contract by John Winter at Chapel, Southampton^[3] (ordered on the same day as the similar Portland from Woolwich Dockyard). The Southampton was launched on 10 June 1693.^[1]

On 29 April 1699 she was ordered to be taken apart at Deptford Dockyard to be rebuilt, and was re-launched there in 1700 as a fourth rate of 54 guns (reduced to 46 guns during peacetime). The Southampton was refitted and re-classed as a 40-gun Fifth Rate in 1716, had a large repair at Chatham Dockyard from 1722 to 1724, was removed from service and hulked at Port Antonio (Jamaica) in 1728, and continued in this role until 1771, when she was broken up.^[2]

Notes

1. Rif Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714, p.133.
2. Rif Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714, p.139.
3. A. J. Holland, Ships of British Oak (David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1971. ISBN 0-7153-5344-6.

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: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK; Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6.