Guernsey (50)
Hierarchical Path: Seven Years War (Main Page) >> Navies >> British Navy >> Guernsey (50)
Origin and History
The ship was initially built at Blackwall and launched in 1696. She was later rebuilt at Woolwich Dockyard and relaunched on 24 October 1717. She was rebuilt a second time at Chatham and launched on 11 August 1740.
During the Seven Years' War, the ship was under the command of:
- in August 1759: lieutenant Michael Kearny (acting commander)
The ship was hulked in 1769 and sold in 1786.
Service during the War
On April 2 1757, the ship was part of Saunders' squadron which left Gibraltar to intercept the French squadron of M. du Revest. The latter was attempting to gain the Atlantic with reinforcements for Louisbourg. On April 5, the British squadron sighted the French. The Guernsey was able to engage but, during the night, the French squadron managed to get away. It then successfully passed the strait of Gibraltar.
In May 1759, during the naval operations in the Mediterranean, the ship was part of admiral Edward Boscawen's squadron who blockaded Toulon to prevent the French squadron from leaving without being detected and followed. At the beginning of July, Boscawen was compelled to go to Gibraltar for provisions and repairs. On August 4, Boscawen finally reached Gibraltar. On August 5, de la Clue set sail from Toulon to make a junction with de Conflans' fleet at Brest. On August 17, de la Clue's fleet (10 ships of the line, 2 50-gun ships and 3 frigates) passed the straits of Gibraltar where it was sighted by the Gibraltar (20). Alarmed, Boscawen set sail from Gibraltar to intercept de la Clue. On August 18, the ship took part to the victorious battle of Lagos. At 1:30 PM, the French began to fire at the headmost British ships as they came up. Since admiral Boscawen perceived that the French intended to make off as soon as the breeze should reach them, he naturally desired that the most advanced ships of his fleet should push on and attack the enemy's van, to stop their flight until his remaining ships could get up. He therefore ordered the America (60) and Guernsey (50) to make more sail. They got into action at about 2:30 PM.
To do: campaigns from 1760 to 1762
Characteristics
| Guns | 50
| ||||||
| Crew | ??? | ||||||
| Length at gundeck | 134 ft (40.8 m) (gundeck) | ||||||
| Width | 38 ft 6 in (11.7 m) | ||||||
| Depth | 15 ft 9 in (4.8 m) | ||||||
| Displacement | 863 long tons (876.8 t) |
References
Clowes, Wm. Laird, The Royal Navy – A History from the Earliest Time to the Present, Vol. III, Sampson Low, Marston and Company, London: 1898, p. 170
Phillips, M., Michael Phillip's Ships of the Old Navy
- HMS Guernsey (1696)
N.B.: the section Service during the War is derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
