HMS ''Vindictive'' was a 74-gun

third-rate In the rating system of the Royal Navy, a third rate was a ship of the line which from the 1720s mounted between 64 and 80 guns, typically built with two gun decks (thus the related term two-decker). Years of experience proved that the third r ...

ship of the line A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed during the Age of Sail from the 17th century to the mid-19th century. The ship of the line was designed for the naval tactic known as the line of battle, which depended on the two colu ...

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 ...

, built by

Nicholas Diddams Nicholas Diddams (c.1760–1823) was a Master Shipwright mainly building for the Royal Navy. Life He was born around 1760 the son of Nicholas Diddams (b.1731) and grandson of John Diddams (1687-1766) and his wife Mary Rolfe (1702-1777). He a ...

Portsmouth Dockyard His Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth (HMNB Portsmouth) is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy (the others being HMNB Clyde and HMNB Devonport). Portsmouth Naval Base is part of the city of Portsmouth; it is l ...

and launched on 30 November 1813 at

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dens ...

. This huge ship had a crew of 590 men under command of Captain

John Toup Nicolas Rear Admiral John Toup Nicolas RN CB KH KFM (1788–1851) was a Royal Navy commander. Life He was the eldest son of Lieutenant (Commander) John Harris Nicolas R.N. (1758–1844) and his wife, Margaret Blake. He was born on 22 February 178 ...

as flagship to Admiral Francis William Austen. ''Vindictive'' was the lead ship of the 40-vessel , indeed she was ordered prior to the design for this class being finalised; however, she was delayed in construction and was not finished until December 1813. With the winding up of the

Napoleonic War The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...

in prospect, she was not required for active service and was immediately placed

in ordinary ''In ordinary'' is an English phrase with multiple meanings. In relation to the Royal Household, it indicates that a position is a permanent one. In naval matters, vessels "in ordinary" (from the 17th century) are those out of service for repair o ...

. Between 1828 and 1833, ''Vindictive'' – still in ordinary – was reduced to a 50-gun

fourth rate In 1603 all English warships with a compliment of fewer than 160 men were known as 'small ships'. In 1625/26 to establish pay rates for officers a six tier naval ship rating system was introduced.Winfield 2009 These small ships were divided i ...

. ''Vindictive'' finally was recommissioned September 1841. On 26 January 1842, she ran aground on The Dean, in the

English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" (Cotentinais) or ( Jèrriais), (Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kana ...

off the

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...

; she was refloated the next day. She was laid up in ordinary again in June 1848 at Portsmouth. In 1861 she was fitted as a

storeship Combat stores ships, or storeships, were originally a designation given to ships in the Age of Sail and immediately afterward that navies used to stow supplies and other goods for naval purposes. Today, the United States Navy and the Royal Nav ...

by White of Cowes, and in 1862 she proceeded to Fernando Po, where she took up that role. She foundered there in July 1871, the wreck being sold to be broken up on 24 November 1871.

Notes

References

*Lavery, Brian (2003) ''The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850.'' Conway Maritime Press. . *Winfield, Rif (2008) ''

British Warships in the Age of Sail ''British Warships in the Age of Sail'' is a series of four books by maritime historian Rif Winfield comprising a historical reference work providing details of all recorded ships that served or were intended to serve in the (British) Royal Navy ...

1793-1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates.'' Seaforth Publishing. .

External links

* Ships of the line of the Royal Navy Vengeur-class ships of the line 1813 ships Maritime incidents in January 1842 Maritime incidents in July 1871 {{UK-line-ship-stub