Salisbury (50)
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Origin and History
The ship was built at East Cowes and launched in 1745.
During the Seven Years' War, the ship was under the command of:
- 1756: captain William Martin
- 1757: captain Knowler
- April 1758: captain John Stukley Somerset
- August 1758: captain William Brereton
- September 1759: captain Digby Dent
The ship was stricken off of the fleet in 1761.
Service during the War
In Mid July 1756, when vice-admiral Charles Watson was summoned to Madras after the fall of Calcutta, the ship was part of his squadron. In Mid October, it was part of the escort of the British expedition against Calcutta. By December 15, it was at Fulta with Watson's squadron. On December 30, the fleet advanced up to Alighur where Clive's force was disembarked. On January 1 1757, when the ships entered the channel between Fort Tanna and the battery opposite to it, the enemy abandoned both. The Salisbury was left there to bring off the guns from the works, and to demolish the defences.
In 1757, the ship was part of admiral Watson's squadron operating in Bengal. In March it took part to the expedition against Chandernagore. On March 23, she was among the ships who attacked Chandernagore. However, owing to an accident, she was unable to get into action
On March 24 1758, the ship was part of vice-admiral Pocock's squadron assembled in the Hooghly river. It took an active part to the operations on the coast of Coromandel. On April 29, she was among Pocock's ships who took part to the combat of Cuddalore where she assisted the Tiger (60) which was hard pressed. After the combat, Pocock's squadron was forced to return to Madras to refit. At the end of May, the squadron made an unsuccessful attempt to relieve Fort St. David who finally surrendered on June 2. A few days later (June 6), the squadron sailed for Madras. On July 25, Pocock's squadron sailed from Madras, intending to engage the French squadron of d'Aché near Pondicherry. On August 3, the ship took part to the victorious combat of Negapatam.
On September 10 1759, the ship took part in the battle of Pondicherry.
To do: campaigns from 1760 to 1761
Characteristics
| Guns | 50
| ||||||
| Crew | 300 | ||||||
| Length | ??? | ||||||
| Width | ??? | ||||||
| Depth | ??? | ||||||
| Displacement | ??? |
References
Anonymous, A Complete History of the Present War, from its Commencement in 1756, to the End of the Campaign, 1760, London, 1761, pp. 181-184
Blasco, Manuel, British 4th Rates, 3 Decks Wiki
Clowes, Wm. Laird, The Royal Navy – A History from the Earliest Time to the Present, Vol. III, Sampson Low, Marston and Company, London: 1898, pp. 161-163
Phillips, M., Michael Phillip's Ships of the Old Navy
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
