HMS Swallow (1703)

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

HMS Swallow engaging Black Bart's Royal Fortune, by Charles Dixon
History
Royal Navy EnsignGreat Britain
NameHMS Swallow
BuilderHarding, Deptford Dockyard
Launched10 February 1703
FateBroken up, 1728
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen673 bm
Length130 ft (39.6 m) (gundeck)
Beam34 ft 6 in (10.5 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 6 in (4.1 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament50 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1719 rebuild[2]
Class and type1706 Establishment 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen711 bm
Length130 ft (39.6 m) (gundeck)
Beam35 ft (10.7 m)
Depth of hold14 ft (4.3 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 50 guns:
  • Gundeck: 22 × 18-pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 22 × 9-pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 4 × 6-pdrs
  • Forecastle: 2 × 6-pdrs
Colonel John Lovett in 1708 identified four men of war in this picture as the Roebuck, 42 guns, on the left, along with the Charles Galley, 36 guns, Swallow, 32 guns, and the ketch Aldborough, 24 guns, on the right; all were ships which attended on the construction of the Eddystone lighthouse, those beyond bear the flags of the countries who contributed financially to the project. Plymouth Harbour is in the background

HMS Swallow was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard and launched on 10 February 1703.[1]

Swallow was rebuilt according to the 1706 Establishment at Chatham Dockyard, and was relaunched on 25 March 1719. Captain Chaloner Ogle commanded Swallow off the West African coast from 1721 and the following year engaged and defeated several pirate ships. Their commander Bartholomew Roberts, now a pirate was killed, and Ogle received a knighthood for his actions. Swallow continued to serve until 1728, when she was broken up.[2]

  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p166.
  2. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p168.