HMS Diana (1794)

Summary

HMS Diana was a 38-gun Artois-class fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1794.

Plan used for the Diana
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Diana
Ordered28 March 1793
BuilderRandall & Brent, Rotherhithe
Laid downMarch 1793
Launched3 March 1794
Completed6 June 1794
Out of serviceSold to the Dutch Navy on 7 March 1815
Honours and
awards
Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Egypt"[1]
Netherlands
NameDiana
AcquiredBought from the British on 7 March 1815
FateDestroyed in dry-dock accident on 16 January 1839
General characteristics
Type38-gun Artois-class fifth rate frigate
Tons burthen999 394 bm
Length
  • 146 ft 3 in (44.6 m) (overall)
  • 121 ft 8+12 in (37.1 m) (keel)
Beam39 ft 3+12 in (12.0 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 9 in (4.19 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement270 (later 315)
Armament
  • Upper deck: 28 x 18-pounder guns
  • QD: 2 x 9-pounder guns + 12 x 32-pounder carronades
  • Fc: 2 x 9-pounder guns + 2 x 32-pounder carronades

Because Diana served in the Royal Navy's Egyptian campaign between 8 March 1801 and 2 September, her officers and crew qualified for the clasp "Egypt" to the Naval General Service Medal that the Admiralty authorized in 1850 to all surviving claimants.[Note 1]

Diana participated in an attack on a French frigate squadron anchored at Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue at the action of 15 November 1810, which ultimately led to the destruction of the French frigate Elisa. (Boats from Diana went in and set fire to the beached Eliza despite heavy fire from shore batteries and three nearby armed brigs; the British suffered no casualties.[3])

In January or February 1812, the French captured Patent, Gillespie, master. Diana recaptured Patent on 4 February.[4] Patent arrived at Plymouth on 6 February.[5]

Heaving up His Majesty's Frigate Diana at Blackburn's Yard, Turnchapel, near Plymouth, 10 March 1813, by John Rogers

Fate edit

On 7 March 1815, Diana was sold to the Dutch navy for £36,796. On 27 August 1816, she was one of six Dutch frigates that participated in the bombardment of Algiers. Diana was destroyed in a fire on 16 January 1839 while in dry-dock at Willemsoord, Den Helder.

Notes edit

  1. ^ A first-class share of the prize money awarded in April 1823 was worth £34 2s 4d; a fifth-class share, that of a seaman, was worth 3s 11½d. The amount was small as the total had to be shared between 79 vessels and the entire army contingent.[2]

Citations edit

  1. ^ "No. 21077". The London Gazette. 15 March 1850. pp. 791–792.
  2. ^ "No. 17915". The London Gazette. 3 April 1823. p. 633.
  3. ^ "No. 16438". The London Gazette. 25 December 1810. p. 2061.
  4. ^ "No. 16598". The London Gazette. 28 April 1812. p. 813.
  5. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4638. 11 February 1812. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735025. Retrieved 7 October 2020.

References edit