Phoenix HMS

[shipstamps]

From early in July 1776 a large British force had been camped on Staten Island and these were gradually being reinforced until by the middle of August there were approximately about 35,000 troops on the island and nearly 400 ships in the harbour. Major-General William Howe planned to leapfrog this army on to Manhattan Island by first landing on Long Island. Then supported by ships and batteries on the North shore of Long Island, he would attack across the East River and take New York. The assault force landed in Gravesend Bay, South of the narrows from locally built flat-boats and the landings were covered by H.M. ships Phoenix, Rose and Rainbow and two others, on August 22, 1776, the whole of Long Island being taken by August 30. The three ships and the flat-boats are shown on the stamp with a Jersey mariner who look part in the operation. Philippe Dauvergne.
H.M.S. Phoenix was a 5th Rate. 44 guns. and 856 tons builders measurement. She was built by Batson, at Limehouse and launched on June 25 1759. Length was 141ft and beam 37ft. She floundered in a hurricane off Cuba on October 4. 1780.
H.M.S. Rose was a 6th Rate of 24 guns, 449 tons builders measurement, built by Blaydes, at Hull and launched on March 8. 1757. She was sunk in September 1779 to act as a blockship at Savannah.
H.M.S Rainbow. A 5th Rate of 44 guns. 831 tons builders measurement was built by Carter at Limehouse and launched on May 30. 1747. Used as a troopship in January 1776, she was placed in harbour service in June 1784 and sold in February 1802. SG162

[aukepalmhof]

Built as a fifth rate wooden ship by John & Robert Batson, Limehouse for the Royal Navy.
05 January 1758 ordered.
14 June 1759 named HMS PHOENIX.
February 1758 keel laid down.
25 June 1759 launched.
Tonnage 842 ton (bm), dim. 140.9 x 36.9 x 15.11ft., length of keel 116.10ft.
Armament: lower deck 20 – 18 pdrs. upper deck 20 – 9 pdrs. quarter deck 4 – 6 pdrs.
Crew 280.
June 1759 commissioned under command of Captain HRH Prince Edward Augustus (Duke of York)
26 July 1759 completed in Deptford.

Later in 1759 under command of Captain Christopher Bethell a unit of Boy’s squadron off Dunkirk.
21 October 1762 during the blockade of Basque Road she captured the France transport La FOLLE.
1763 In the Mediterranean waters under command of Captain Richard Onslow.
1763 Paid off and recommissioned in June 1763 again.
24 September 1763 sailed for African coast, thence to the West Indies.
19 May 1765 sailed for a mission to Algiers.
September 1766 paid off, recommissioned October 1766.
06 December 1766 sailed for Africa, and made thereafter regular voyages to Africa.
January 1771 paid off.
Repaired and fitted out at Portsmouth.
July 1775 recommissioned under command of Captain Hyde Parker and sailed for North America 14 September 1775.
1776 Took part in the New York operations and was Lord Howe’s flagship in the invasion of Long Island on 22 August 1776. The assault force crossed from Staten Island to Long Island in locally built flatboats covered by HMS PHOENIX, ROSE and RAINBOW as seen on the stamp.
She subsequent covered also the landing of British troops on Manhattan Island.
09 October 1776 she destroyed two armed gallies in the Hudson River.
December 1778 at Savannah.
From May till July 1779 at Plymouth for a refit and coppered.
Summer 1779 in Harvey’s fleet.
September 1779 by the relief of Guernsey.
25 December 1779 sailed out with a West Indies convoy.
04 October 1780 was wrecked in the great hurricane at Cuba, crew mostly saved, but vessel total loss.
See story on her loss at:
http://dpcaptain.blogspot.co.nz/2011/10 ... oenix.html
Jersey 1976 11p sg162, scott162.
Source: Log Book and British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714 – 1792 by Rif Winfield.