History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Yarmouth
Ordered:	16 June 1742
Builder:	Deptford Dockyard
Laid down:	25 November 1742
Launched:	8 March 1745
Commissioned:	February 1745
In service:	1745–1752 1753–1760 1763–1770 1777–1781 1781–1807
Honours and awards:	Second Battle of Cape Finisterre, 1747 Seven Years' War American Revolutionary War Battle of the Saintes, 1782
Fate:	Broken up, April 1811
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:	1741 proposals 64-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1359 ​38⁄94 bm
Length:	160 ft (48.8 m) (gundeck) 130 ft 6 in (39.8 m) (keel)
Beam:	44 ft 3 in (13.5 m)
Depth of hold:	19 ft (5.8 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full rigged ship
Complement:	480
Armament:	Gundeck: 26 × 32-pounder guns Upper gundeck: 26 × 18-pounder guns Quarterdeck: 10 × 9-pounder guns Forecastle: 2 × 9-pounder guns

HMS Yarmouth was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard. She was previously ordered to the dimensions specified in the 1741 proposals for modifications to the 1719 Establishment, but the Admiralty had very quickly concluded that these were too small, and as an experiment in 1742 authorised an addition of 6ft to the planned length, and the Yarmouth was re-ordered to the enlarged design in June 1742. She was built at Deptford, where the Admiralty felt they could best observe the effectiveness of the added size, and launched on 8 March 1745.^[1]

Commissioned in February 1745 under Captain Roger Martin. In 1747 under Captain Piercy Brett she was one of George Anson's squadron at the First Battle of Cape Finisterre. In 1781, Yarmouth was reduced in armament to become a 60-gun ship. She remained in this role until 1811, when she was broken up.^[1]

Destroying USS Randolph[edit]

On 7 March 1778 Yarmouth was attacked by the American frigate Randolph with half the guns and likely less than a quarter the firepower. The frigate managed to cause some minor damage to two of Yarmouth's topmasts and a portion of her bowsprit, then attempted to rake (fire through the length of) the ship; Randolph was firing 3 broadsides to Yarmouth's one, however the 12 lb shot would have struggled to penetrate Yarmouth's hull, while Yarmouth's 18 and 32-pounder guns would have been able to penetrate any part of her comparatively lightly armored opponent. Randolph exploded during the engagement, likely due to a shot penetrating her magazine, killing all but four of her crew. Part of her wreckage landed on Yarmouth's decks, including Randolph's ensign. Yarmouth had to repair two damaged topmasts but suffered no significant damage and no fatalities or serious injuries.

Citations and references[edit]

Citations

References

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