HMS Vigo was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 21 February 1810 at Rochester.[1]

Vigo
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Vigo
Ordered20 October 1806
BuilderRoss, Rochester
Laid downApril 1807
Launched21 February 1810
FateBroken up, 1865
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeVengeur-class ship of the line
Tons burthen1787 bm
Length176 ft (54 m) (gundeck)
Beam47 ft 6 in (14.48 m)
Depth of hold21 ft (6.4 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 74 guns:
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 4 × 12 pdrs, 10 × 32 pdr carronades
  • Forecastle: 2 × 12 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades
  • Poop deck: 6 × 18 pdr carronades

She became a receiving ship in 1827, and was broken up in 1865.[1]

HMS Vigo is one of the few but significant number of ships to have been built by a shipyard owned by a women. A Mrs Mary Ross was the widow of the former owner of Acorn Warf at Rochester. She was evidently successful in the business and would go on to build a further 8 vessels for the Royal Navy, including one other 74-gun ship, HMS Stirling Castle.[2]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 188.
  2. ^ Doe, Helen (2006). "Challenging Images: Mrs Mary Ross of Rochester, nineteenth‐century businesswoman and warship builder". Journal for Maritime Research. 8 (1): 46–60.

References edit

  • Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.