HMS Swallow (1732)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Swallow and HMS Princess Louisa.

History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Swallow
Ordered	7 January 1729
Builder	Devonport Dockyard
Launched	6 October 1732
Fate	Broken up, 1742
General characteristics
Class and type	1719 Establishment 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	951 bm
Length	144 ft (43.9 m) (gundeck)
Beam	39 ft (11.9 m)
Depth of hold	16 ft 5 in (5.0 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	60 guns: Gundeck: 24 × 24-pdrs Upper gundeck: 26 × 9-pdrs Quarterdeck: 8 × 6-pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 6-pdrs

HMS Swallow was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Peirson Lock to the dimensions of the 1719 Establishment at the Yard at Plymouth Dock (now called Devonport), and launched on 6 October 1732. She was renamed HMS Princess Louisa in 1737.

Engagements

HMS Princess Louisa took part in the destruction of the fortress of San Lorenzo el Real Chagres (22-24 March 1740), in Panama, as part of a squadron commanded by Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon during the War of Jenkins' Ear.

At 3 pm on 22 March 1740, the English squadron, composed of the ships Strafford, Norwich, Falmouth and Princess Louisa, the frigate Diamond, the bomb vessels Alderney, Terrible and Cumberland, the fireships Success and Eleanor, and transports Goodly and Pompey, under Vernon's command, began to bombard the Spanish fortress. Given the overwhelming superiority of the English forces, Captain Don Juan Carlos Gutiérrez Cevallos surrendered the fort on 24 March, after resisting for two days.

Princess Louisa served until 1742, when she was broken up.

References

• Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line – Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.