Spanish ship San Juan Nepomuceno (1765)
San Juan Nepomuceno
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| History | |
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 .svg){kind=small} Spain
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| Name: | San Juan Nepomuceno |
| Namesake: | John of Nepomuk |
| Ordered: | 20 September 1763 |
| Builder: | Juan Donesteve |
| Laid down: | 19 June 1765 |
| Launched: | 18 October 1766 Guarnizo (Cantabria) |
| Captured: | 22 October 1805 by Royal Navy |
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Berwick |
| Acquired: | Captured 22 October 1805 |
| Renamed: | HMS San Juan |
| Fate: | Paid off & sold 8 January 1816 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Third-rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen: | 1,740 tons bm |
| Length: | 181 ft (55 m) |
| Beam: | 47 ft 4 in (14.43 m) |
| Height: | 146 ft (45 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 21 ft 3 in (6.48 m) |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement: | 640 |
| Armament: |
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San Juan Nepomuceno was a Spanish ship of the line launched in 1765 from the royal shipyard in Guarnizo (Cantabria). Like many 18th century Spanish warships she was named after a saint (John of Nepomuk). She was a solidly built ship of proven seaworthy qualities. Captured by the British Royal Navy during the Battle of Trafalgar, the ship was renamed first HMS Berwick, then HMS San Juan. The ship was discarded in 1816.
Her sister ships were San Pascual, San Francisco de Asis, San Lorenzo, Santo Domingo and San Agustín.
She was originally fitted with a total of 74 cannons: 28 24-pounders, 30 18-pounders, 8 12-pounders and 8 8-pounders, and was manned by 8 officers, 11 midshipmen, 19 leading seamen and 492 able seamen (530 total). Her supply capacity was for 60 days victuals and 80 days water.
She rendered numerous important services to the Armada, some of them in the Caribbean where she participated in several sieges and was distinguished in 1779.
In 1793, she took part in the Anglo-Spanish occupation of Toulon under the command of Admiral Don Juan de Lángara. Four years later, in 1797, she was part of a Spanish fleet under Teniente General José de Córdoba y Ramos that fought against the British at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent.
The Battle of Trafalgar is the historical feat in which she participated and of which we have the best account. In spite of being dismasted by Admiral Nelson's artillery on 21 October 1805, she achieved glory in this battle under the command of the commander Don Cosme Damian Churruca and constituted for the Spaniards a handsome example of the heroism of their nation and the bravery of their sailors.
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Wikipedia