HMS Asia (1764)
HMS Asia at the Halifax Naval Yard, 1797. Watercolour by George Gustavus Lennox, who was a Lieutenant aboard Asia
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| History | |
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 UK
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| Name: | HMS Asia |
| Ordered: | 20 March 1758 |
| Builder: | Edward Allin & Thomas Bucknall, Portsmouth Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 18 April 1758 |
| Launched: | 3 March 1764 |
| Commissioned: | March 1771 |
| Decommissioned: | March 1802 |
| In service: |
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| Fate: | Broken up, 1804 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 64-gun third-rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen: | 1364 46⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: | 158 ft (48 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam: | 44 ft 6 in (13.6 m) |
| Draught: |
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| Depth of hold: | 18 ft 10 in (5.7 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Armament: | |
HMS Asia was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 3 March 1764 at Portsmouth Dockyard. She participated in the American Revolutionary War and the capture of Martinique in 1794. She was broken up in 1804.
Sir Thomas Slade designed her as an experimental design, one that proved to be particularly groundbreaking as she was the first true 64. As a result, the Royal Navy ordered no further 60-gun ships but instead commissioned more 64 gun ships. Because these incorporated alterations learned from trials with Asia, for instance subsequent ships were bigger, she was the only ship of her draught (class).
Asia saw early service in the American Revolutionary War, as a transport vessel for 500 Royal Marines sent to New York City in 1774 to quell rising tensions among the local population. She arrived in New York Harbour on 4 December and remained there until later in the month when she joined a flotilla commanded by Admiral Richard Howe. She was present at the Battle of Brooklyn in August 1776, and later survived a fire ship attack led by American revolutionary Silas Talbot. The fire ship did foul Asia and set her fire to her, but the crew, aided by men from other nearby vessels, were able to extinguish the flames.
Asia was recommissioned in May 1793 under Captain John Brown and on 26 December he sailed her to the West Indies to join Admiral Sir John Jervis.
In March 1794, Asia participated in the capture of Martinique by an expeditionary force under the command of Jervis and Lieutenant General Sir Charles Grey. The British were able by 16 March to capture all the forts, except Fort Bourbon and Fort Royal. On 20 March she and Zebra were supposed to enter the Carenage at Fort Royal to fire on Fort Saint Louis. However, Asia did not get into position. Her pilot, M. de Tourelles, who had been a lieutenant of the port, reneged on his agreement to take her in, ostensibly because of a fear of shoals. Instead, Zebra went in alone, with her captain, Richard Faulknor, and crew landing under the guns of the fort and capturing it.
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Wikipedia