Tartar Group 32-gun ship explained
With the ascension of Queen Anne to the throne of England, these would be the first vessels associated to her reign. The vessels would be similar to the previous 1694 programme with one exception. The upper deck battery would be fully enclosed with a deck running from the foc's'le to the quarterdeck. This would protect the gunners and battery during an action with the enemy. In 1702 one vessel was ordered from dockyard. In 1703 two more were ordered from dockyard.
Design and Specifications
Their dimensions would be very similar to the 1664 programme group for 32-gun vessels. The dimensions were a gundeck of 108feet with a keel of 90feet for tonnage calculation with a breadth of 28feet and a depth of hold of 10feet. Her builder’s measure tonnage was calculated as 400 tons (burthen).[1] Tartar would be rebuilt to the 1719 establishment for 20-gun vessels. The establishment dimensions were 106feet with a keel length of 87feet for tonnage calculation. The breadth would be 28feet with a depth of hold of 9feet. The tonnage calculation would be 374 tons (bm).[2] [3]
Their crew would be 145 personnel during wartime with 100 personnel required for peacetime. Their guns were established at four/four demi-culverins on the lower deck, twenty-two/twenty 6-pounder guns on the upper deck and six/four 4-pounder guns on the quarterdeck. Later during their service the demi-culverins would be changed out for 12-pounder guns. In 1714 the four pounders would be removed. When the surviving ships were rebuilt as sixth rates in 1720 they would carry only twenty 6-pounder guns on the upper deck.[4]
Caption text| Name | Builder | Launch Date | Remarks |
|---|
| Woolwich Dockyard | 12 September 1702 | - Rebuilt as sixth Rate May 1733
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| Deptford Dockyard | 2 December 1704 | - Taken by French 29 December 1709
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| Chatham Dockyard | 10 March 1705 | - Taken by French 14 April 1709
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References
- Winfield (2009), British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2009, EPUB
- Winfield (2007), British Warships in the Age of Sail (1714 – 1792), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2007, EPUB
- Colledge (2020), Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © 2020, EPUB
- Lavery (1989), The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War 1600 – 1815, by Brian Lavery, published by US Naval Institute Press © Brian Lavery 1989,, Part V Guns, Type of Guns
- Clowes (1898), The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to the Present (Vol. II). London. England: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, © 1898
- Clowes (1898), The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to the Present (Vol. III). London. England: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, © 1898
Notes and References
- Winfred 2009, Ch 5, The Fifth Rates, Vessels acquired from 16 December 1688, Fifth Rates of 32 and 36 guns, Tartar Group
- Clowes (1898), Chapter XXVI, page 9
- Winfield (2007), Chapter 6, Sixth Rates, Sixth Rates of 20 or 24 guns, Vessels acquired from 1 August 1714, 1719 Establishment Group
- Clowes (1898), Chapter XXVI, page 9
