HMS ''Milford'' was a 28-gun

sixth-rate In the rating system of the Royal Navy used to categorise sailing warships, a sixth-rate was the designation for small warships mounting between 20 and 28 carriage-mounted guns on a single deck, sometimes with smaller guns on the upper works and ...

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 built at

Milford Milford may refer to: Place names Canada * Milford (Annapolis), Nova Scotia * Milford (Halifax), Nova Scotia * Milford, Ontario England * Milford, Derbyshire * Milford, Devon, a place in Devon * Milford on Sea, Hampshire * Milford, Shro ...

by Richard Chitty and launched in 1759. She was sold for breaking at Woolwich on 17 May 1785.

Construction

In sailing qualities ''Milford'' was broadly comparable with French frigates of equivalent size, but with a shorter and sturdier hull and greater weight in her

broadside Broadside or broadsides may refer to: Naval * Broadside (naval), terminology for the side of a ship, the battery of cannon on one side of a warship, or their near simultaneous fire on naval warfare Printing and literature * Broadside (comic ...

guns. She was also comparatively broad-beamed with ample space for provisions and the ship's mess, and incorporating a large

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for

powder A powder is a dry, bulk solid composed of many very fine particles that may flow freely when shaken or tilted. Powders are a special sub-class of granular materials, although the terms ''powder'' and ''granular'' are sometimes used to distin ...

and

round shot A round shot (also called solid shot or simply ball) is a solid spherical projectile without explosive charge, launched from a gun. Its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the barrel from which it is shot. A round shot fired from a la ...

. Taken together, these characteristics would enable ''Milford'' to remain at sea for long periods without resupply.Gardiner 1992, pp. 107108 She was also built with broad and heavy masts, which balanced the weight of her hull, improved stability in rough weather and made her capable of carrying a greater quantity of sail. The disadvantages of this comparatively heavy design were a decline in manoeuvrability and slower speed when sailing in light winds.Gardiner 1992, pp. 111112 Her designated complement was 200, comprising two

commissioned officers An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

and a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

overseeing 40 warrant and

petty officer A petty officer (PO) is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotation OR-5 or OR-6. In many nations, they are typically equal to a sergeant in comparison to other military branches. Often they may be superior ...

s, 91 naval ratings, 38

Marines Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

and 29 servants and other ranks.Rodger 1986, pp.348351 Among these other ranks were four positions reserved for widow's men fictitious crew members whose pay was intended to be reallocated to the families of sailors who died at sea.

Service history

Following Spain's declaration of war, joining the French against Great Britain in the Seven Years' War, ''Milford'' fell in with an ''

aviso An ''aviso'' was originally a kind of dispatch boat or "advice boat", carrying orders before the development of effective remote communication. The term, derived from the Portuguese and Spanish word for "advice", "notice" or "warning", an '' ...

'' carrying orders from Spain to its forces in Havana. The ships met off Cape Tiburon, the westernmost point of St Domingo and after fighting all day the ''aviso'' was forced to strike. The ''aviso''s commander sank his despatches and the only document received in Havana was a copy of the Madrid Gazette containing the Spanish declaration of war. On 6 June 1776, ''Milford'' captured the American privateer , a 14-gun, single-deck sloop, after a two-hour battle. The Americans had believed they were chasing a merchantman, but reversed course when they came close enough to recognize the British ship of war. ''Milford'' gave chase and caught up to the much smaller ship after about an hour, firing only bow chasers until she was able to come along and give a full broadside. ''Yankee Hero''s sails were shredded and almost half her crew incapacitated. Her commander, Captain James Tracy ordered the surrender when they were no longer able to either fight or flee. Four or five of ''Yankee Hero''s crew were killed and twelve or thirteen wounded, including the captain. ''Milford'' stands out as the British vessel that engaged the first American armed vessel, . In the Battle of Yarmouth, under the command of Captain Joseph Olney, ''Cabot'' stood out of

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

weeks before on 23 March 1777 the vessel encountered ''Milford''. The vastly more powerful British ship chased ''Cabot'' and forced her ashore in

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

. While ''Cabot''s captain and crew escaped into the woods unharmed, the British were later able to get the brig off, and refitted her for service in the

. On 15 March 1779, the British warships ''Apollo'', , and ''Milford'' captured the French privateer cutter . The Royal Navy took her into service under her existing name. On 2 October 1779, captured two French cutters, and , each of 14 guns and 120 men. The Royal Navy took both into service essentially under their existing names. ''Jupiter'' shared the prize money with ''Apollo'', , and ''Milford''.

Construction

Service history

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links