View source for HMS Greenwich (1747)

{{short description|Ship of the line of the Royal Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Greenwich}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
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|Ship country=[[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]
|Ship flag=[[File:Naval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg|60px|Royal Navy Ensign]]
|Ship name=HMS ''Greenwich''
|Ship ordered=3 October 1745
|Ship builder=Moody Janvrin, [[Lepe, Hampshire|Lepe]], [[Hampshire]]
|Ship laid down=November 1745
|Ship launched=19 March 1747
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|Ship completed=26 March 1748
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|Ship captured=18 March 1757, by the French
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|Ship country=[[Kingdom of France|France]]
|Ship flag=[[File:Flag of the Kingdom of France (1814-1830).svg|60px|border|French Navy Ensign]] 
|Ship name=''Greenwich''
|Ship acquired=18 March 1757
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
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|Ship fate=Wrecked near Plougastel on 14 January 1758
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Header caption=<ref name="Lavery, SoLv1 p173">Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p173.</ref>
|Ship class=[[1745 Establishment]] 50-gun [[fourth rate]] [[ship of the line]]
|Ship tons burthen=1,053 15/94 [[Builder's Old Measurement|bm]]
|Ship length=*{{convert|144|ft|6.5|in|m|1|abbr=on}} (overall)
*{{convert|116|ft|1.5|in|m|1|abbr=on}} (keel)
|Ship beam={{convert|41|ft|3.5|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught=*{{convert|17|ft|2|in|m|1|abbr=on}} (forward)
*{{convert|18|ft|4|in|m|1|abbr=on}} (abaft) 
|Ship hold depth={{convert|17|ft|7|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship sail plan=[[Full-rigged ship]]
|Ship propulsion=Sails
|Ship complement=
|Ship armament=*50 guns:
*Gundeck: 22 × 24 pdrs
*Upper gundeck: 22 × 12 pdrs
*Quarterdeck: 4 × 6 pdrs
*Forecastle: 2 × 6 pdrs
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'''HMS ''Greenwich''''' was a 50-gun [[fourth rate]] [[ship of the line]] of the [[Royal Navy]]. She was built during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]], and went on to see action in the [[Seven Years' War]], during which she was captured by the French and taken into their service under the same name. She was wrecked shortly afterwards.

Built at [[Lepe, Hampshire|Lepe]], ''Greenwich'' was one of a number of 50-gun ships designed to the dimensions laid down in the [[1745 Establishment]]. She had only three British commanders during her career with the Royal Navy. Her first, [[John Montagu (Royal Navy officer)|John Montagu]], commanded her during the end of the War of the Austrian Succession, after which she was surveyed and probably laid up. She was returned to active service under [[William Holburne]] with the outbreak of the Seven Years' War, though he was soon succeeded by [[Robert Roddam]]. Roddam took her out to the Caribbean, where in 1757 he fell in with a French squadron under [[Joseph de Bauffremont]]. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Roddam fought his ship for 12 hours before surrendering her.

Taken into French service, ''Greenwich'' formed part of a squadron under [[Guy François de Coetnempren, comte de Kersaint]], which was attacked by a much smaller force of three British ships at the [[Battle of Cap-Français]]. The two sides inflicted heavy damage on each other before breaking off, with ''Greenwich'' having been left considerably leaky. She underwent some repairs before escorting a convoy to France. The escorting force was caught in a gale in January 1758, and three ships were driven aground and wrecked, ''Greenwich'' among them.

==Construction and commissioning==
''Greenwich'' was ordered from Moody Janvrin on 3 October 1745, and was laid down at his yard at [[Lepe, Hampshire|Lepe]] on the [[Beaulieu River]] in [[Hampshire]] in November that year.<ref name="Winfield">{{cite book |last=Winfield |title=British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792|pages=145–6}}</ref> She was built to the draught specified in the [[1745 Establishment]], and launched on 19 March 1747.<ref name="Lavery, SoLv1 p173" /><ref name="Colledge">{{cite book |last=Colledge |title=Ships of the Royal Navy|page=148}}</ref> She was a development of designs from before the start of the [[War of the Austrian Succession]], and her dimensions approached those of earlier 60-gun ships, though the 50-gun ships of the 1745 establishment sat deeper in the water. Despite this they had an improved [[Freeboard (nautical)|freeboard]], with a height of {{convert|5|ft|11|in|m|1|abbr=on}} amidships from the waterline to the lower [[gunport]]s, and had increased headroom below decks.<ref name="Winfield"/> 50-gun ships like ''Greenwich'' were armed with twenty-two 24-pounder guns on the lower deck, twenty-two 12-pounders on the upper deck, and four 6-pounders on the [[quarterdeck]]. In addition they carried two 6-pounders on the [[forecastle]] as [[bow chaser]]s.<ref name="Winfield"/>

As completed ''Greenwich'' was 1,053 15/94 [[Builder's Old Measurement|bm]] and measured {{convert|144|ft|6.5|in|m|1|abbr=on}} long overall, and {{convert|116|ft|1.5|in|m|1|abbr=on}} on her keel, with a beam of {{convert|41|ft|3.5|in|m|1|abbr=on}} and a hold depth of {{convert|17|ft|7|in|m|1|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Winfield"/> She had been named on 9 March 1747, ten days before being launched, and was completed by 26 March 1748, probably at [[HMNB Portsmouth|Portsmouth]].<ref name="Winfield"/> Her total cost to build came to [[Pound Sterling|£]]19,582.15[[Shilling (British coin)|s]].2[[Penny (British pre-decimal coin)|d]], a sum that probably included the cost of fitting her out.<ref name="Winfield"/> She was commissioned in 1748 under Captain [[John Montagu (Royal Navy officer)|John Montagu]].<ref name="Winfield"/>

==British career==
Commissioned too late to see any significant service in the War of the Austrian Succession, ''Greenwich'' was surveyed on 28 January 1749, and was probably laid up for the next few years.<ref name="Winfield"/> She was recommissioned in March 1755, shortly after the outbreak of the [[Seven Years' War]], under Captain [[William Holburne]], though he was soon succeeded by Captain [[Robert Roddam]].<ref name="Winfield"/> Roddam received orders to sail to the Caribbean and departed for [[Jamaica]] on 23 January 1757.<ref name="ODNB">{{cite ODNB |chapter=Roddam, Robert (1719–1808)|chapter-url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23930|title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/23930 |last1=Crimmin |first1=P. K. }}</ref>

===Capture===
[[File:Admiral Robert Roddam.jpg|thumb|right|Captain [[Robert Roddam]], ''Greenwich''{{'}}s third and final British commander]]
Roddam cruised for a while off Cape Cabron, [[San Domingo]], but on 18 March 1757 mysterious sails were sighted, which were at first assumed to be a small fleet of merchant ships being conveyed by two frigates. This was in fact a squadron of French warships under [[Joseph de Bauffremont]], consisting of the 84-gun [[French ship Tonnant (1740)|''Tonnant'']], the 74-gun ships [[French ship Diadème (1756)|''Diadème'']] and ''Desauncene'', the 64-gun ships [[French ship Éveillé (1753)|''Éveillé'']] and ''Inflexible'', the frigates [[French frigate Sauvage (1756)|''Sauvage'']] and [[French frigate Brune (1755)|''Brune'']], and a 20-gun storeship.<ref name="PC136">{{cite book |title=Public Characters|page=136}}</ref>  The French were to windward, and Bauffremont, unsure of ''Greenwich''{{'}}s identity, sent one of his frigates to examine her. Realising that with the wind in the Frenchman's favour, he could not escape, Roddam attempted to lure the frigate towards him, hoping to capture her before the rest of the fleet could intervene, and then send her immediately to Rear-Admiral [[George Townshend (Royal Navy officer)|George Townshend]], the commander at Jamaica, with news of the French movements.<ref name="PC137">{{cite book |title=Public Characters|page=137}}</ref> 
[[File:Joseph de Bauffremont with M de Broves being welcome into Smyrne by the French Consul 28 September 1766 detail.jpg|thumb|left|[[Joseph de Bauffremont]], whose squadron captured ''Greenwich'' off [[San Domingo]]]]
The frigate soon determined that ''Greenwich'' was a two-decked warship, and sailed back to the protection of the squadron, which then came up and attacked, with action commencing at 9 a.m. when ''Diadème'' opened fire. For the next twelve hours ''Greenwich'' was constantly engaged with one or other of the French ships.<ref name="PC137"/> Roddam assembled his men in an attempt to board the 64-gun ''Éveillé'', but several of her consorts bore up and opened fire, damaging ''Greenwich''{{'}}s rigging and leaving her unmanageable. After consulting with his officers, Roddam expressed his desire to fight on, but eventually agreed to surrender ''Greenwich'', as further resistance would only cause further casualties among his men.<ref name="PC138">{{cite book |title=Public Characters|page=138}}</ref>

The [[striking the colours|colours were then struck]] to ''Éveillé'', but Roddam refused her commander's demands that he come aboard his ship, instead insisting the French send a boat for him.<ref name="PC138"/> Roddam threatened to rehoist the colours and defend the ship until she sank if this was not done, and eventually a French officer was sent across in a boat.<ref name="PC139">{{cite book |title=Public Characters|page=139}}</ref> The French took possession of ''Greenwich'', ransacking her, then taking Roddam and his men to [[Hispaniola]] where they were imprisoned.<ref name="PC141">{{cite book |title=Public Characters|page=141}}</ref>

==French career and loss==
''Greenwich'' was taken into the [[French Navy]] under the same name, and appears to have been quickly pressed into service, as, under the command of a Captain Foucault she was part of a squadron under [[Guy François de Coetnempren, comte de Kersaint]] which engaged a British squadron at the [[Battle of Cap-Français]] on 21 October 1757.<ref name="WA">{{cite book |last=Marley|title=Wars of the Americas|pages=280–1}}</ref> The British force, under [[Commodore (Royal Navy)|Commodore]] [[Arthur Forrest (Royal Navy officer)|Arthur Forrest]], had been sent from [[Jamaica]] by Rear-Admiral Thomas Cotes to intercept a homeward-bound French convoy.<ref name="WA"/> Forrest's force consisted of two 60-gun ships; {{HMS|Augusta|1736|6}}, flying Forrest's broad pennant, and {{HMS|Dreadnought|1742|6}}, under Captain [[Maurice Suckling]], and the 64-gun [[HMS Warspite (1666)|HMS ''Edinburgh'']], under Captain William Langdon.<ref name="WA"/> The recently reinforced French squadron, consisting of ''Greenwich'', the 70-gun [[French ship Intrépide (1747)|''Intrépide'']] under Kersaint, the 70-gun [[French ship Sceptre (1747)|''Sceptre'']] under Captain Clavel, the 64-gun [[French ship Opiniatre|''Opiniatre'']] under Captain Mollieu, the 44-gun frigate [[French frigate Outarde|''Outarde'']] and the 32-gun frigates [[French frigate Sauvage (1756)|''Sauvage'']] and [[French frigate Licorne (1755)|''Licorne'']] came out to meet them.<ref name="WA"/>

Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the British engaged the French squadron at 3.20 pm, with the fighting lasting for the next two and a half hours, until Kersaint signalled one of his frigates to tow his damaged flagship, ''Intrépide'', out of the line.<ref name="WA"/> In doing so the French line fell into confusion, with ''Intrépide'', ''Superbe'' and ''Greenwich'' falling aboard each other, and were heavily cannonaded by ''Augusta'' and ''Edinburgh'' until they were able to untangle themselves.<ref name="NC">{{cite book |last=Schomberg|title=Naval Chronology|page=296}}</ref> The other French ships gradually broke away from the action and moved off. The British did not pursue, and the two sides returned to their respective ports. The French casualties in the action were estimated at between 500 and 600 killed and wounded, with ''Greenwich'' having been reduced to a very leaky condition.<ref name="NC"/>

After repairing some of the battle damage Kersaint sailed for France with the convoy, but became caught in a storm in January 1758 as he neared the French coast. ''Opiniatre'', ''Greenwich'' and ''Outarde'' attempted to anchor, but were driven ashore in the gale and were wrecked.<ref name="WA"/>

==See also==
*[[List of ships captured in the 18th century]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |title = Public Characters [Formerly British public characters] of 1798-9 - 1809-10| publisher =H. Colburn|location=London |year =	1803}}
*{{Cite Colledge2006}}
*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}}.
*{{cite ODNB |first=P. K.|last=Crimmin|chapter=‘Roddam, Robert (1719–1808)’|chapter-url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23930|title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/23930 }}
*{{cite book | last =Marley| first = David|title = Wars of the Americas: A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the New World, 1492 to the Present| publisher =ABC-CLIO| year = 1998|isbn=0-87436-837-5}}
*{{cite book | last =Nicolas| first = Nicholas Harris|author-link=Nicholas Harris Nicolas|title = The dispatches and letters of vice admiral ... Nelson, with notes by sir N.H. Nicolas| publisher =Henry Colburn|location=London| year = 1846|volume=7}}
*{{cite book | last =Schomberg| first = Isaac|title = Naval Chronology: or, An Historical Summary of Naval & Maritime Events, from the Time of the Romans, to the Treaty of Peace, 1802| publisher =T. Egerton by C. Roworth|location=London| year = 1802|volume=1}}
* {{cite book | last = Winfield| first = Rif|title = British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates | publisher =  Seaforth| year = 2007|isbn=978-1-86176-295-5}}
{{refend}}

{{1745 Establishment ships|1745}}

{{coord missing|Atlantic Ocean}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greenwich (1747)}}
[[Category:Ships of the line of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:1747 ships]]
[[Category:Ships of the line of the French Navy]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1758]]
[[Category:Captured ships]]