HMS Terrible

From Saint George Squadron

HMS Terrible moves to investigate an unknown Merchantman off Irish Point, July 1722

H.M.S. Terrible

Rating: 3rd-rate

Class: Wenden-Class Ship of the Line

Date of Commission: January 5th, 1722

Shipyard: Toulon, France January 1706 Captured June 26, 1706.

Purchased by the Royal Navy Prize Court August 1, 1706 for £11,211.11.0d

Refit: Plymouth, 1707-8

Service: Channel Fleet 1708-1715

Laid up as Accomodation / Storeship Portsmouth 1715-1720

Transferred to Caribbean Station as Storeship 1720, Docked St. Johns, Antigua.

Major Refit / Rebuild: 1720-1722, English Harbor Master Shipyard

Guns: 84

Crew: 650

Status: In Commission.

Background:

H.M.S. Terrible was designed by the French shipbuilding family, Coulomb, and laid down at Toulon in late 1704. Construction was accelerated as the War for Spanish Succession created an immediate demand for additional ships for the French Mediteranean Fleet. Launched and named Le Terrible, the ship conducted its maiden voyage as part of the 30 ship French fleet that laid siege to Barcelona. On June 26, 1706, Le Terrible, along with 5 other 3rd and 4th rates were intercepted on patrol about 80 miles east of Barcelona by a Royal Navy squadron of 6 ships commanded by Admiral Sir John Leake. In a sharp engagement, Le Terrible and a 4th rate were captured by boarding action, another 4th rate exploded and sunk, while the British lost no ships. The remaining French ships were able to escape as the damage to the British ships rigging and sails prevented effective pursuit.

A prize crew sailed Le Terrible to Plymouth where the Crown purchased the ship for use in the Royal Navy. After repairs, the ship was re-christened HMS Terrible and assigned to Rear Admiral John Jennings squadron. Admiral Jennings squadron served off Lisbon for most of 1708 - 1710. After a brief refit in 1711, HMS Terrible served again with the Channel Fleet out of Portsmouth until being laid up in 1715 as an accomodation and stores vessal in Portsmouth Harbor.

In 1720, HMS Terrible underwent a basic refit to restore its mast and running rigging and was sent to St. Johns, Antigua to serve as a storeship for Fleet Operations in the Caribbean Station. The need for additional rates resulted in Admiral James Keen ordering her return to combat status. This was accomplished by the English Harbor Master Shipyard where the ship was virtually rebuilt from the keel up. Assigned to Captain John Allday, the HMS Terrible was restored to active duty on January 6, 1722.

Engagements:

During the British assault on Nassau, HMS Terrible was part of the Black, or Heavy Squadron of the British Fleet. After initial manuevers to force the Don's to retreat into the protection of the defensive fortress, HMS Terrible and the rest of the Black Divison took blocking positions off the primary Fortress dock. While here, HMS Terrible and other ships of the Black Division sunk a Don vessal trying to break the blockade, and assisted the White Squadron (St. George Squadron of the White) in sinking a second vessal trying to escape. When the main landing force developed problems in their assault on the town, both the White and Black squadron's approached the town and landed marines and seamen to force the town. These reinforcements proved critical to the assault - and the Don defenders died in their positions as 2 full British squadrons added their forces to the town assualt.

On August 25, 1722, HMS Terrible was part of the heavy squadron supporting the effort to recapture Nassau from the Dons. Also included in the force, was an element from St. Georges Squadron of the White, with 5 vessels comprising the flying squadron to support the invasion effort. As part of the attack, the Heavy and Flying squadrons aggressively approached the fort and saw the few defending Spanish vessels withdraw under the guns of the primary fort. With these groups taking up blocking positions off the fort, another British squadron began to land seamen and marines to take the town. While this was going on, 2 Don ships attempted to run from the Fort to the primary Town Defense positions in order to reinforce the defenders. The massed fire from 2 full squadrons quickly sank these ships before they could even cover two cables. The range of our guns, about 3 cables.

Once the initial landing waves hit the beach, the Don's moved aggressively to counterattack any and all gains that the landing force achieved. The fight on land was extremely hard with both sides nearing breaking. Signals from the ships off the town, seconded through the fleet, advised the Flag that reinforcements were needed in order to ensure the day. Immediately, the Heavy and Flying Squadrons cut their anchor cables and raised sails. As we moved half a mile from the fort, the Don's began to sail out to harry our sterns. With full sails, both the Heavy and Flying Squadrons quickly approached the town. Dropping sails, each ship began to use all boats to ferry Marines, Sailors, and Officers ashore to reinforce the attack.

HMS Terrible's force comprised of Captain Allday, Major Fitzgerald (Commander of the Marines), 112 Marines, and 96 Sailors across 6 boats. Immediately upon landing, Captain Allday quickly organized the force and marched quickly into the town and found a small British force being pressed by a larger Don force. Striking the Don's quickly on the flank, the Terrible's force decimated the enemy and rescued the survivors from 3 other ships. Regrouping, the Terrible's double timed into the main town square to find a large force breaking the Don last stand. Augmenting the other forces present, the Don Garrison Commander was quickly overwhelmed and killed. As more reinforcements were arriving, Captain Allday and other senior officers called for the Don's to surrender, which they did. Quarter was offered to the surviving Dons and Nassau was once again a jewel of the British West Indies. Our losses were light in the capture of the town, 7 Marines and 3 Sailors killed, 5 Marines and 12 Sailors injured and expected to recover. Major Fitzgerald was one of the most severely wounded, losing his left arm in the attack. He was Mentioned in Dispatches for his bravery saving several hard pressed RN Captains during the initial charge into Town.

British Captains:

1722-Present: John Allday, Esquire

Port Battle History