HMNS King Lawrence: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
mNo edit summary
 
Line 113: Line 113:


==Early Service==
==Early Service==
===Empire of Vionna==-
===Empire of Vionna===
Despite being commissioned in 1801, VIS King Lawrence did not enter active service until 1804 when she was placed under the command of [[Sir Edwin Malton|Captain Edwin Malton]].
Despite being commissioned in 1801, VIS King Lawrence did not enter active service until 1804 when she was placed under the command of [[Sir Edwin Malton|Captain Edwin Malton]].


==After active service==
==After active service==

Latest revision as of 01:36, 8 August 2019

King Lawrence.jpg
Modern painting of King Lawrence
History
Vionnan Empire.pngEmpire of Vionna
Name: VIS King Lawrence
Ordered: 14 July 1797
Builder: Briceport Dockyard
Laid down: 23 July 1798
Launched: 7 July 1801
Commissioned: 1 September 1801
Homeport: Frankenlisch Naval Dockyard
Honours and
awards:
Captured: 24th March 1807, Cape Hastings
History
Frankenlisch.jpgGestoria-Briceport
Name: FNS King Lawrence
Commissioned: 18 August 1809
Homeport: Briceport Naval Base
History
Flag of Castile-La Mancha.svgVionna-Frankenlisch
Name: HMNS King Lawrence
Commissioned: 1815
Homeport: Frankenlisch Naval Dockyard
Honours and
awards:
Status:
General characteristics
Class and type: 104-gun first-rate ship of the line
Displacement: 3,500 tons
Tons burthen: 2,142 bm
Length:
  • 186 ft (57 m) (gundeck),
  • 227 ft 6 in (69.34 m) (overall)
Beam: 51 ft 10 in (15.80 m)
Draught: 28 ft 9 in (8.76 m)
Depth of hold: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
Propulsion: Sails—6,510 sq yd (5,440 m²)
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Speed: up to 11 knots (20 km/h)
Complement: Approximately 850
Armament:
  • Gundeck: 30 × 2.75 ton long 32 pounders (15 kg)
  • Middle gundeck: 28 × 2.5 ton long 24 pounders (11 kg)
  • Upper gundeck: 30 × 1.7 ton short 12 pounders (5 kg)
  • Quarterdeck: 12 × 1.7 ton short 12 pounder (5 kg)
  • Forecastle: 2 × medium 12 pounder (5 kg), 2 × 68 pounder (31 kg) carronade

HMNS King Lawrence is a 104-gun First-Rate ship of the line of the Imperial Navy, ordered in 1797, laid down in 1798 and launched in 1801. It is known for being the flagship of Lord Hilton during his long naval career.

Construction

As much of the sizeable Royal Frankenlischian Navy was unavailable to the victorious Empire of Vionna following the Vionnan Conquest of Frankenlisch, due to many crews burning their ships or sailing into exile to prevent them falling into Vionnan hands, Empress Elizabeth ordered the construction of a new, modern battlefleet. Following the successful construction of the Elizabeth-class of 13 38-gun frigates, it was decided to experiment with flagship designs. First built was the 84-gun VIS Riverland which was accepted by the new Imperial Navy but considered too small for a fleet flagship. Following the Riverland was VIS King Francis of 96 guns, King Francis was once again accepted but the Naval Construction Board insisted on a flagship bearing over 100 guns and so designed the King Lawrence with 104 guns.

King Lawrence was constructed at Briceport Dockyard under the direct supervision of the Imperial Navy. Two hundred workmen were assigned to the construction of her frame alone, which took three months from July to October, 1798. Her hull was constructed over the winter of 1798-99 and the whole construction made use of between six and seven thousand trees of oak, pine and elm. Following the construction of her hull, King Lawrence was left to season for a full year and a half before being floated in July 1800. Over the following month, her rigging was constructed and was supposedly considered the most masterfully produced in the history of Frankenlischian shipbuilding, though this may be hyperbole.

She was launched formally without issue on the 7th of July, 1801 and she was finally commissioned into service on the 28th of September, 1801, having been built at a cost of around 64,000 Lucans. She was, at the time of her launch, one of the largest vessels afloat. With no pressing conflict, she was moored at Frankenlisch for two years, only setting out for sea trials and the delay was used to complete her internal fitting-out. Though initially cleared for a broadside of 450 kilos, following the installation of two 68-pounder carronades and the substitution of 6-pounder guns for 12-pounders, King Lawrence's full weight of armament was just over a tonne. In the winter of 1801, a plan arose to replace her 32-pounder guns with 42-pounders but it was rejected on the basis of weight issues and the difficulty of production.

Early Service

Empire of Vionna

Despite being commissioned in 1801, VIS King Lawrence did not enter active service until 1804 when she was placed under the command of Captain Edwin Malton.

After active service