RATTLESNAKE HMS 1777
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 8:35 pm
Built as cutter for the Royal Navy, after a design of John Williams, she was later re-classed as a sloop.
27 November 1776 ordered
December 1776 keel laid down at the yard of Thomas Farley, Folkestone.
07 June 1777 launched as the RATTLESNAKE
Tonnage 181 ton (bm), dim. 69.4 x 25.7 x 10.9ft. Length of keel 52 ft.
Armament first as a cutter with 10 - 4pdrs. and 12 - ½pdr. swivels, but after re-classed as sloop 14 – 12pdr carronades.
Crew as cutter 60, as sloop 70.
08 August 1777 completed at Deptford Dockyard.
June 1777 commissioned under command of Lieut. Patrick Walsh.
May 1778 under command of Lieut. Francis Hartwell and a unit of Keppel’s fleet.
25 January 1779 re-classified as sloop.
HMS RATTLESNAKE at that time under command of D’Auvergne together with HMS JUPITER were ordered to survey Trindade and Martin Vaz, Brazil to establish the islands suitability for a base for outward bound Indiamen.
The two vessels arrived at Trindade and anchored offshore, the island is volcanic with noting but turtle doves and land crabs at that time.
HMS RATTLESNAKE was wrecked on Trindade on 21 October 1781, shortly after Commander Philippe d'Auvergne had taken over command. RATTLESNAKE had been ordered to survey the island to ascertain whether it would make a useful base for outward-bound Indiamen. She anchored, but that evening the wind increased and by seven o’clock she was dragging. Two hours later the first cable parted and Commander d’Auvergne club-hauled his way out, setting main and fore sails, and using the remaining anchor cable as a spring. This successfully put RATTLESNAKE’s head to seaward. The remaining cable was then cut, and the sloop wore round and stood out to sea. However the ground now shallower quite rapidly and suddenly RATTLESNAKE struck a submerged rock. She started filling with water, so, in order to preserve the lives of the crew, d'Auvergne ran her ashore. Five sailors were picked up by the JUPITER but the remainder were marooned at the beach
The crew lived on the tiny island for three months until HMS BRISTOL and a convoy of Indiamen, which fortuitously called there, rescued them on 22 December
.
The rescued crew were taken to Madras in India.
Jersey 1987 31p sg420, scott429.
Source: British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792 by Rif Winfield. Internet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trindade_and_Martim_Vaz
.
27 November 1776 ordered
December 1776 keel laid down at the yard of Thomas Farley, Folkestone.
07 June 1777 launched as the RATTLESNAKE
Tonnage 181 ton (bm), dim. 69.4 x 25.7 x 10.9ft. Length of keel 52 ft.
Armament first as a cutter with 10 - 4pdrs. and 12 - ½pdr. swivels, but after re-classed as sloop 14 – 12pdr carronades.
Crew as cutter 60, as sloop 70.
08 August 1777 completed at Deptford Dockyard.
June 1777 commissioned under command of Lieut. Patrick Walsh.
May 1778 under command of Lieut. Francis Hartwell and a unit of Keppel’s fleet.
25 January 1779 re-classified as sloop.
HMS RATTLESNAKE at that time under command of D’Auvergne together with HMS JUPITER were ordered to survey Trindade and Martin Vaz, Brazil to establish the islands suitability for a base for outward bound Indiamen.
The two vessels arrived at Trindade and anchored offshore, the island is volcanic with noting but turtle doves and land crabs at that time.
HMS RATTLESNAKE was wrecked on Trindade on 21 October 1781, shortly after Commander Philippe d'Auvergne had taken over command. RATTLESNAKE had been ordered to survey the island to ascertain whether it would make a useful base for outward-bound Indiamen. She anchored, but that evening the wind increased and by seven o’clock she was dragging. Two hours later the first cable parted and Commander d’Auvergne club-hauled his way out, setting main and fore sails, and using the remaining anchor cable as a spring. This successfully put RATTLESNAKE’s head to seaward. The remaining cable was then cut, and the sloop wore round and stood out to sea. However the ground now shallower quite rapidly and suddenly RATTLESNAKE struck a submerged rock. She started filling with water, so, in order to preserve the lives of the crew, d'Auvergne ran her ashore. Five sailors were picked up by the JUPITER but the remainder were marooned at the beach
The crew lived on the tiny island for three months until HMS BRISTOL and a convoy of Indiamen, which fortuitously called there, rescued them on 22 December
.
The rescued crew were taken to Madras in India.
Jersey 1987 31p sg420, scott429.
Source: British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792 by Rif Winfield. Internet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trindade_and_Martim_Vaz
.