''HMS Andromache'' was a 32-gun fifth-rate

frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...

of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

. She was launched in 1781 and served for 29 years until she was broken up in 1811.

Construction

''Andromache'' was ordered on 1 February 1780 and was laid down on June 1780 by William Barnard of Deptford Dockyard. She was launched on 17 November 1781 and was completed by February of the following year. The ship is named after Andromache in

Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the Cosmogony, origin and Cosmology#Metaphysical co ...

Career

West Indies

In 1782 under the command of Captain George Anson Byron, ''Andromache'' headed a look-out squadron during the

Battle of Saintes The Battle of Saintes was fought on 1 April 1351 during the Hundred Years' War between French and English forces. The French were besieging the town of Saint-Jean-d'Angély when an English relief force arrived. The English force was victorious ...

. Alongside and , they provided vital information to Admiral Sir George Rodney by reporting all of Comte de Grasse's movements at Fort Royal. Thirteen years later in 1795, ''Andromache'' sailed through a hurricane off

Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = " Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , e ...

where she was completely dismasted and suffered severe damage.

Mediterranean

In 1796 under the command of Charles Manfield, ''Andromache'' engaged a 24-gun Algerine corsair after it mistook her for a Portuguese

. The corsair lost 64 crew before the vessel surrendered.

North America

In 1799, ''Andromache'' sailed to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

where she would patrol the coast. Two years later in 1801, ''Andromache'' and another , , carried out an attack on a 30-ship Spanish convoy in the Bay of Levita,

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

. On approach, both vessels were heavily damaged by grapeshot but they were able to successfully capture a single Spanish gunboat.

Fate

After serving for nearly 30 years, ''Andromache'' was broken up in 1811 at Deptford Dockyard.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andromache, HMS Ships built in London 1781 ships Fifth-rate frigates of the Royal Navy