HMS Winchester was a 60-gun Southampton-class sailing frigate of the Royal Navy. She was laid down in 1816 at Woolwich Dockyard, and launched on 21 June 1822. Although designed for 60 guns, she and the rest of the class carried 52 guns. From 1831 to 1861 she served in North America and South East Asia. In 1861 she became the training ship Conway at Liverpool, and from 1876 she was the training ship Mount Edgcumbe. She was sold in 1921.
Although ordered in 1816 and laid down in 1818, Winchester was not launched until 21 June 1822, and commissioned on 16 September later that year. She served until 1839 as the flagship on the North America and West Indies Station, where she was commanded by Captain Charles Austen, brother of the novelist Jane Austen. From 1842 she served as the flagship on the Cape of Good Hope Station, under the command of Captain Charles Eden, and from 1852 she was the flagship of Rear Admiral Fleetwood Pellew on the East Indies and China Station, taking part during 1852 and 1853 in military operations on coast of Burma. From 1854 she was the flagship of Rear Admiral James Stirling, and during this time she was involved in the Second Opium War, when her boats and some of her ship's company were used in the attack on Canton.
In August 1855, during the Crimean War, Winchester and Barracouta entered and first charted the waters of Peter the Great Gulf, while searching for the Russian squadron commanded by Vasily Zavoyko.
From 1861 Winchester replaced the 26-gun sixth rate HMS Conway as the training ship in the port of Liverpool, and was renamed Conway that year. She was used as an educational vessel for homeless and destitute children. She was replaced in 1876 by HMS Nile, which in turn was renamed Conway. The former Winchester was returned to the Admiralty on 1 September 1876, and was renamed HMS Mount Edgcumbe.
The Devon and Cornwall Industrial Training Ship Association was formed in 1874 to provide a training ship for the homeless boys of Plymouth, and Mount Edgcumbe was anchored in the River Tamar off Saltash. The training ship was closed down on 4 December 1920.
Mount Edgcumbe was sold on 8 April 1921, and was towed to Queen Anne's Battery for breaking.
Class and type: 60-gun Southampton-class frigate
Tons burthen: 1,468 11/94 bm (as designed)
Length: 172 ft (52 m) (gundeck)
144 ft 9 in (44 m) (keel)
Beam: 44 ft 3.25 in (13 m)
Depth of hold: 14 ft 6 in (4 m)
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Complement: 450
Armament: Designed for 60 guns, fitted with 52 guns
As built:
UD: 30 × 24-pdr guns
QD & FC: 16 × 42-pdr carronades and 6 × 24-pdr guns
Re-armed:
UD: 26 × 32-pdr guns
QD & FC: 20 × 32-pdr guns and 4 × 8-inch shell guns.
Wikipedia.
St Kitts SG45
For HMS Conway see:
http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =2&t=10297