HMS Ganges (1782)
| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Ganges |
| Ordered: | 14 July 1779 |
| Builder: | Randall, Rotherhithe |
| Laid down: | April 1780 |
| Launched: | 30 March 1782 |
| Honours and awards: |
Participated in: |
| Fate: | Broken up, 1816 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class and type: | Ganges-class ship of the line |
| Tons burthen: | 1679 bm |
| Length: | 169 ft 6 in (51.66 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam: | 47 ft 8½ in (14.5 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 20 ft 3 in (6.17 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Complement: | 590 officers and men |
| Armament: |
74 guns:
|
HMS Ganges was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 30 March 1782 at Rotherhithe.[1] She was the first ship of the Navy to bear the name. Her first captain was Charles Fielding. She saw active service from 1782 to 1811, in Europe and the West Indies.[2]
In 1794, whilst under the command of Captain William Truscott, she captured the French 24-gun corvette Jacobin.[3] The Ganges was part of the squadron commanded by Admiral John Gell, which escorted a Spanish ship they had captured from the French back to Portsmouth. The ownership of the ship was a matter of some debate and was not settled until 4 February 1795, when the value of the cargo was put at £935,000. At this time all the crew, captains, officers and admirals received a share of the prize money, Admiral Hood taking away £50,000. Besides Ganges, the ships that conveyed the Spanish prize to Portsmouth were St George, Egmont, Edgar and Phaeton.[4]
She was present at the Battle of Copenhagen, and commanded by Captain Thomas Fremantle.[2] Also aboard were a contingent of soldiers from the 49th foot, commanded by Isaac Brock. They were supposed to storm the forts at Copenhagen, but the outcome of the naval battle made such an assault unnecessary.[citation needed]
She was commissioned as a prison ship on 12 December 1811 for holding prisoners of war, and transferred to the Transport Board in 1814. Ganges was broken up at Plymouth in 1816.[1]
Notes
References
- Michael Phillips. Ganges (74) (1782). Michael Phillips' Ships of the Old Navy. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- 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.
- J. Wright (printer) (1807) The Annual Register, or a view of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the year 1795. Google Books. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
- HMS Ganges Association History Royal Navy. HMS Ganges Association. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
