HMS Bombay
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Bombay
Ordered26 January 1825
BuilderBombay Dockyard
Laid downMay 1826
Launched17 February 1828
FateCaught fire, exploded and sank; 14 December 1864
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeCanopus-class ship of the line
Tons burthen2279 bm
Length193 ft 10 in (59.08 m) (gundeck)
Beam52 ft 4.5 in (15.964 m)
Depth of hold22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
PropulsionSails, since 1861 sails + steam engine
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 84 guns:
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounders, 2 × 68-pounder carronades
  • Upper gundeck: 32 × 24-pounders
  • Quarterdeck: 6 × 24-pounders, 10 × 32-pounder carronades
  • Forecastle: 2 × 24-pounders, 4 × 32-pounder carronades

HMS Bombay was an 84-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 17 February 1828 at Bombay Dockyard.[1]

She was fitted with screw propulsion in 1861 at Chatham Dockyard. This was a significant modification and involved cutting the ship in half and inserting a section to lengthen her, as well as fitting a Humphrys, Tennant and Dykes steam engine that gave a speed of 10 knots.[2] Under the command of Captain Colin Andrew Campbell, she was sent to South America as the flagship of Rear-Admiral Charles Elliot.

On 8 December 1864, members of the crew fielded a cricket side to play against the Buenos Aires Cricket Club in the opening of the BACC's new game field in Parque Tres de Febrero in Palermo, Buenos Aires, located where the Galileo Galilei planetarium is today. That day the BACC defeated the Bombay team by 85 runs to 31.[3]

Loss

HMS Bombay on fire. A hand-coloured, photographic print of a painting by Richard Brydges Beechey, National Maritime Museum collection.[4]

The ship would be destroyed in a fire on the River Plate, in a freak target practice accident. Her efficient ventilation system spread the fire of unknown origin during the target practice off Uruguay near Isla de Flores near Montevideo in the River Plate on 14 December 1864. destroying her and costing the lives of 93 of her crew of 619.[5][6]

At the time the ship was under sail, and the engines were not in use. The fire was reported at 3.35pm, having started in the area of the aft-hold. It spread quickly; by 4pm flames were coming out of the hatchways and setting the sails on fire. The ships boats were launched, but many men went into the water; some were killed by the ship's anchors when the cables holding them burnt through and they dropped into the sea. At 8:25pm, the ship's after gunpowder magazine exploded and she quickly sank in shallow water.[7]

Bombay's bowsprit remained visible above the water for some years afterwards, though it had disappeared by 1885.[8]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 190.
  2. ^ "William McAlpine The Loss of HMS Bombay off Mondevideo". Christies.
  3. ^ ""Historia del Club" at BACRC official website". Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  4. ^ "HMS 'Bombay' on fire off Montevideo, Uruguay, 14 December 1864". www.rmg.co.uk. Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  5. ^ Gossett (1986), p.117.
  6. ^ Davis, P. "Loss of Her Majesty's ship Bombay". William Loney RN - Life and Career. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Casualties and Crimes-The Loss of HMS Bombay". Bury and Norwich Post. No. 4309. 24 January 1865.
  8. ^ "The South American Pilot: The east coast of South America from Cape St. Roque to Cape San Antonio, Rio de la Plata ; and the north coast from Cape St. Roque to the Rio Maroni in French Guyana. Part I". The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. 1885. p. 211. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  9. ^ Who Was Who. Vol.2, 1916-28 (5 ed.). Black. 1992. p. 649. ISBN 0-7136-3143-0. OCLC 1158346242.
  10. ^ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. No. 24840. London. 7 April 1864. p. 14.
  11. ^ Who Was Who. Vol.2, 1916-28 (5 ed.). Black. 1992. p. 654. ISBN 0-7136-3143-0. OCLC 1158346242.

References

  • Gossett, William Patrick (1986). The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. Mansell. ISBN 0-7201-1816-6.
  • 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.


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