A second rate of 90 guns, 1,945 tons (b.m.), 178 ft. x 50 ft., built at Chatham Dockyard in 1777.
Sir George Rodney, and his flagship, the Formidable, appear on the 4 cents stamp. It was Rodney's victorious leadership of the British fleet in the Battle of the Saints which was the culmination of his very successful naval career. On April 12, 1782, his victory over the French Admiral De Grasse, whom he captured, culminating the land and sea campaign for the possession of the West Indies key islands, led to his elevation to the peerage.
Anguilla SG114, Antigua SG273, BVI SG248, 328
Formidable HMS
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Formidable HMS
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aukepalmhof
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Re: Formidable HMS 1777
Built as a 2nd Rate ship of the line by Chatham Dockyard, for the Royal navy.
20 August 1777 launched under the name HMS FORMIDABLE.
Tonnage 1.945 tons (bm), dim 178b x 50ft.
Armament: 28 – 32 pdrs., 30 – 18 pdrs., 30 – 12 pdrs., 2 – 9 pdrs.
20 November 1777 commissioned.
27 July 1778 took part in the action with the British Channel fleet under command of Admiral Keppel against the French fleet under command of d’Orvilliers off Ushant. Both sides having some 30 sail of the line. The French admiral had conflicting orders and the battle was indecisive.
April 1781 took part in the relief expedition to Gibraltar with a British squadron under command of Admiral Darby. Gibraltar at that time was under blockade by a French/Spanish navel force. The Rock was under siege of the French/Spanish forces until September 1872, when Admiral Howe with a large convoy escorted by 34 British naval vessels, destroyed most of the Spanish floating batteries.
As flagship of Admiral Rodney she took part on 12 April 1782 in the Battle of the Saints (group of islands in the channel between Dominica and Guadeloupe.) A British squadron of 29 ships defeated a French fleet of 29 ships under command of Admiral Comte de Grasse.
Admiral de Grasses flagship the VILLE DE PARIS together with 3 other ships was captured, and three French ships were severe damaged. The remainder of the French fleet managed to evade the British fleet, and leave the waters.
1791 Flagship of Rear-Admiral J.Leveson Gower.
Feb. 1795 under command of Capt. Hon. George Berkley in the English Channel.
1797 During the mutiny at Spithead, when the fleet did not want to sail out before their grievances were met.
The FORMIDABLE at that time was under command of Lieut. William Love.
The HMS INTREPID anchored nearby the FORMIDABLE and her crew showed signs of disaffection. With the permission of Capt. William Hargood, Lieut. Love sent over a officer with a few trusty men to remonstrate with them. This produced good results and discipline was restored.
After the British Government passed the necessary bills to approve the mutineers demand, the fleet sailed out.
07 June 1797 FORMIDABLE got orders together with six other ships of the line to join Admiral Duncan’s fleet in the North Sea, but instead the squadron was sent to HMS CAESAR to reason with her crew (could not find out what happened on board the CAESAR but I think it had to do something with the mutiny).
Afterwards fitted out as Admiral Duncan’s flagship, and she sailed through the Downs on 11 October 1797, the day that Admiral Duncan on board HMS VENERABLE defeated the Dutch fleet in the Battle of Camperdown.
I think not that Admiral Duncan hoisted his flag in the FORMIDABLE, she returned to Plymouth and Admiral Sir Charles Thompson used her as his flagship in November 1797.
Nov 1797 under command of Capt. Robert Williams. January 1798 command was taken over by Capt. J.Irwin, June 1798 Capt. J.H.Whitshed took over command, and in April 1799 command was taken over by Capt. E.Thornbrough, used in the English Channel Fleet.
1800 With Admiral Gardner’s squadron off Brest. They left from Brest on the 19th. and arrived at Plymouth on 23 March 1800. Sailed out again on 01 April and joined Lord Bridport off Brest. She remained the rest of the year cruising off Brest apart from a two-week break at Plymouth in the middle of August.
On 10 December 1800 a court martial was held at Torbay to try Lieut. Delyel of HMS FORMIDABLE on a charge of speaking very disrespectfully to his captain. He was found guilty and sentenced to be dismissed for ever from his Majesty’s service and to be imprisoned for two years in solitary confinement. The court martial was presided by Admiral Harvey.
1801 Under command of Capt. Richard Grindall in the English Channel Fleet.
28 May 1801 wages and prize money was paid out at Plymouth on the officers and crew of the FORMIDABLE.
She arrived at Plymouth on 26 September 1801 for a refit.
November the FORMIDABLE with other ships of the Royal Navy was detached to cruise off Bantry Bay.
Admiral Lord Gardner, and the Admiralty, had arranged for an agent victualler to be at Beerhaven with a supply of bullocks and other necessities ready for the squadron. Provisions were plentiful; a fat sheep nine shilling, geese one shilling each, eggs two-pence a dozen, and fish and game in abundance.
On the 1st and 2nd there were severe gales around the southern Irish coast and several warships, HMS GALATEA for one, nearly foundered.
Vice Admiral Sir A. Mitchell, made the signal for unbending sails so it was supposed that the squadron would winter in Bantry Bay.
Following an outbreak of mutiny at Beerhaven at the end of 1801, the crew of FORMIDABLE were keen to express their loyalty and wrote to the captain saying that they were hurt the imputation that they were concerned in any way with the crime so atrociously committed on board HMS TEMERAIRE.
29 September 1802 she was paid of at Plymouth, her crew discharged and the ship was laid up in ordinary.
1803 At Plymouth under repair.
1805 At Plymouth fitting out as flagship for Admiral Duckworth, she was then under command of Captain R.D.Dunn.
1806 She was still at Plymouth a report in the Times of 13 January 1806 gives, that typhus exists on several navy vessels at Plymouth under which the FORMIDABLE. The hospitals are crowded; some ships send 30 men a day to the hospitals, many crewmembers died.
On 1 January 1807 under command of Captain F.Fayerman she sailed for the Mediterranean.
1808 Used in the blockade of Toulon.
1810 Under command of Captain James Nicoll Morris at Lisbon.
End of 1811 out of commission at Portsmouth.
1813 Reduced to a 3rd Rate 74 gun, the same year in August broken up at the Chatham Dockyard.
Sources: Partly downloaded from http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/F.HTM Naval Warfare in the Age of Sail by Bernard Ireland. An Encyclopedia of Naval History by Antony Bruce and William Cogar.
20 August 1777 launched under the name HMS FORMIDABLE.
Tonnage 1.945 tons (bm), dim 178b x 50ft.
Armament: 28 – 32 pdrs., 30 – 18 pdrs., 30 – 12 pdrs., 2 – 9 pdrs.
20 November 1777 commissioned.
27 July 1778 took part in the action with the British Channel fleet under command of Admiral Keppel against the French fleet under command of d’Orvilliers off Ushant. Both sides having some 30 sail of the line. The French admiral had conflicting orders and the battle was indecisive.
April 1781 took part in the relief expedition to Gibraltar with a British squadron under command of Admiral Darby. Gibraltar at that time was under blockade by a French/Spanish navel force. The Rock was under siege of the French/Spanish forces until September 1872, when Admiral Howe with a large convoy escorted by 34 British naval vessels, destroyed most of the Spanish floating batteries.
As flagship of Admiral Rodney she took part on 12 April 1782 in the Battle of the Saints (group of islands in the channel between Dominica and Guadeloupe.) A British squadron of 29 ships defeated a French fleet of 29 ships under command of Admiral Comte de Grasse.
Admiral de Grasses flagship the VILLE DE PARIS together with 3 other ships was captured, and three French ships were severe damaged. The remainder of the French fleet managed to evade the British fleet, and leave the waters.
1791 Flagship of Rear-Admiral J.Leveson Gower.
Feb. 1795 under command of Capt. Hon. George Berkley in the English Channel.
1797 During the mutiny at Spithead, when the fleet did not want to sail out before their grievances were met.
The FORMIDABLE at that time was under command of Lieut. William Love.
The HMS INTREPID anchored nearby the FORMIDABLE and her crew showed signs of disaffection. With the permission of Capt. William Hargood, Lieut. Love sent over a officer with a few trusty men to remonstrate with them. This produced good results and discipline was restored.
After the British Government passed the necessary bills to approve the mutineers demand, the fleet sailed out.
07 June 1797 FORMIDABLE got orders together with six other ships of the line to join Admiral Duncan’s fleet in the North Sea, but instead the squadron was sent to HMS CAESAR to reason with her crew (could not find out what happened on board the CAESAR but I think it had to do something with the mutiny).
Afterwards fitted out as Admiral Duncan’s flagship, and she sailed through the Downs on 11 October 1797, the day that Admiral Duncan on board HMS VENERABLE defeated the Dutch fleet in the Battle of Camperdown.
I think not that Admiral Duncan hoisted his flag in the FORMIDABLE, she returned to Plymouth and Admiral Sir Charles Thompson used her as his flagship in November 1797.
Nov 1797 under command of Capt. Robert Williams. January 1798 command was taken over by Capt. J.Irwin, June 1798 Capt. J.H.Whitshed took over command, and in April 1799 command was taken over by Capt. E.Thornbrough, used in the English Channel Fleet.
1800 With Admiral Gardner’s squadron off Brest. They left from Brest on the 19th. and arrived at Plymouth on 23 March 1800. Sailed out again on 01 April and joined Lord Bridport off Brest. She remained the rest of the year cruising off Brest apart from a two-week break at Plymouth in the middle of August.
On 10 December 1800 a court martial was held at Torbay to try Lieut. Delyel of HMS FORMIDABLE on a charge of speaking very disrespectfully to his captain. He was found guilty and sentenced to be dismissed for ever from his Majesty’s service and to be imprisoned for two years in solitary confinement. The court martial was presided by Admiral Harvey.
1801 Under command of Capt. Richard Grindall in the English Channel Fleet.
28 May 1801 wages and prize money was paid out at Plymouth on the officers and crew of the FORMIDABLE.
She arrived at Plymouth on 26 September 1801 for a refit.
November the FORMIDABLE with other ships of the Royal Navy was detached to cruise off Bantry Bay.
Admiral Lord Gardner, and the Admiralty, had arranged for an agent victualler to be at Beerhaven with a supply of bullocks and other necessities ready for the squadron. Provisions were plentiful; a fat sheep nine shilling, geese one shilling each, eggs two-pence a dozen, and fish and game in abundance.
On the 1st and 2nd there were severe gales around the southern Irish coast and several warships, HMS GALATEA for one, nearly foundered.
Vice Admiral Sir A. Mitchell, made the signal for unbending sails so it was supposed that the squadron would winter in Bantry Bay.
Following an outbreak of mutiny at Beerhaven at the end of 1801, the crew of FORMIDABLE were keen to express their loyalty and wrote to the captain saying that they were hurt the imputation that they were concerned in any way with the crime so atrociously committed on board HMS TEMERAIRE.
29 September 1802 she was paid of at Plymouth, her crew discharged and the ship was laid up in ordinary.
1803 At Plymouth under repair.
1805 At Plymouth fitting out as flagship for Admiral Duckworth, she was then under command of Captain R.D.Dunn.
1806 She was still at Plymouth a report in the Times of 13 January 1806 gives, that typhus exists on several navy vessels at Plymouth under which the FORMIDABLE. The hospitals are crowded; some ships send 30 men a day to the hospitals, many crewmembers died.
On 1 January 1807 under command of Captain F.Fayerman she sailed for the Mediterranean.
1808 Used in the blockade of Toulon.
1810 Under command of Captain James Nicoll Morris at Lisbon.
End of 1811 out of commission at Portsmouth.
1813 Reduced to a 3rd Rate 74 gun, the same year in August broken up at the Chatham Dockyard.
Sources: Partly downloaded from http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/F.HTM Naval Warfare in the Age of Sail by Bernard Ireland. An Encyclopedia of Naval History by Antony Bruce and William Cogar.