History | |
---|---|
Great Britain | |
Name | HMS Infernal |
Ordered | 5 October 1756 |
Builder | Henry Bird, Northam, Southampton |
Laid down | November 1756 |
Launched | 4 July 1757 |
Completed | 11 July 1757 |
Commissioned | April 1757 |
Decommissioned | March 1763 |
Out of service | 26 October 1774 |
Fate | Sold out of service, Deptford Dockyard |
General characteristics | |
Class and type |
|
Tons burthen | 307 39⁄94 (bm) |
Length |
|
Beam | 27 ft 9 in (8.5 m) |
Depth of hold | 12 ft 1 in (3.7 m) |
Propulsion | Sail |
Sail plan | Ketch-rigged sloop |
Complement | 60 (bomb vessel), 110 (sloop) |
Armament |
|
HMS Infernal was an 8-gun bomb vessel of the Royal Navy, constructed in 1757 and in service until 1763. Designed by Thomas Slade, she was the prototype for six subsequent Infernal class bomb vessels which saw service in the Mediterranean and the West Indies during the Seven Years' War with France. In 1760 she was refitted as a sloop and returned to active service in the Caribbean.[1]
Infernal was paid off at the conclusion of the War in 1763, and sold out of Navy service in 1774.[1]
Infernal was the first of seven bomb vessels designed by Surveyor of the Navy Thomas Slade to strengthen the Navy's shore bombardment capacity during the Seven Years' War. Admiralty Orders for her construction were issued on 5 October 1756, followed by a contract to master shipwright Henry Bird to build the vessel at the civilian dockyard in Northam, Southampton. The contract specified that Infernal should be ready for launch within six months in return for payment of £11.5.0 per ton burthen. While this time requirement was not met, Admiralty retained sufficient confidence in Bird's capacity that he was engaged to build a second vessel, HMS Blast, in 1759.[2]
Infernal's dimensions were in keeping with other vessels of her class, with an overall length of 91 ft 9 in (28.0 m), a beam of 27 ft 9 in (8.5 m) and measuring 30739⁄94 tons burthen. Construction costs were £3,355 with an additional £2,082 for fitting out.[1][a] Slade's design included a narrow stern, bluff bow and broad beam, creating a short, heavy vessel capable of supporting the recoil of the mortars. A consequence of this design was that her sailing qualities were very poor, as she lacked both speed and the ability to sail to close to the wind.[4]
Infernal was among the last bomb vessels to be built to a two-masted ketch rig design. Over the preceding decade the Navy Board had considered ways to improve the handling and seaworthiness of its bomb vessels, including using a three-masted ship rig instead of the ketch. To test this concept, the Board resolved that four Infernal-class bombs, including Infernal herself, would be ketch-rigged and the other three ship-rigged, and that their relative performance would determine future bomb vessel design.[5]
She was initially equipped with eight six-pounder cannons for ship defence, and twelve 1⁄2-pounder swivel guns to ward off boarding parties. Slade's design specified that two mortars be installed, one capable of 10-inch shot and the other of 13-inch, for use against fortifications.[1] The mortars were also capable of being loaded with around one hundred one-pound projectiles at a time, for use against enemy personnel.[6]
Bomb vessel construction ended on 11 July 1757, but by Admiralty Order the newly launched ship was immediately returned to Northam dockyard for refitting as a sloop. The mortars were removed and replaced with an additional six six-pounder cannons, and additional quarters constructed for an enlarged crew totaling 110 men.[1]