Perseverance-class frigate: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:51, 4 June 2022

Revision as of 19:53, 4 June 2022

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====Background====

[[File:ORLANDO 1811 RMG J5762.jpg|The 1811 lines of [[HMS Orlando (1811)|''Orlando'']], demonstrating the standard design of the second iteration|thumb]]

In the 1790s the [[First Lord of the Admiralty]], [[George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer|Lord Spencer]], moved the Royal Navy away from a policy of building small, cost-efficient vessels that resulted in a large fleet, and instead championed the building of larger and more expensive ships that could help counter French and Spanish ships that had not been designed under similar constraints. By 1800 the majority of British frigates were of a sizesimilar withsize theto shipsthose of other nations, but this new fleet had been very expensive to construct. In February 1801 a new administration brought in a new First Lord, Admiral [[John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent|Lord St Vincent]].{{sfnp|Gardiner|2000|p=9}} With threats of invasion ongoing and peace with France being uncertain, St Vincent was tasked with continuing to build frigates at the same pace as his predecessor, but with far less extravagance and expense.{{sfnp|Gardiner|2000|p=10}}

St Vincent, an experienced sailor, believed that the navy could exist with average but capable ships, with the gap between the force of a British and French frigate being made up by the superior training of British crews. He was of the opinion that the ''Perseverance''-class frigates were of the perfect size for this strategy, with [[HMS Inconstant (1783)|''Inconstant'']] being especially singled out as a model ship, and as such orders were put forth for the class to be revived.{{sfnp|Gardiner|2000|p=10}} The smaller size and consistency in service of the ''Perseverance'' class was what gained it favour with St Vincent; it has been noted that other classes, such as the ''Flora'' class, were faster, and the choice was no compliment to the sailing qualities of the class.{{sfnp|Gardiner|1992|p=85}}{{sfnp|Gardiner|1999|p=48}} This would become the blueprint for future frigate designs and construction, forcing the Royal Navy back to the use of smaller, cheaper, but still capable frigates.{{sfnp|Gardiner|2001|pp=56–57}} While there was little push back against the order, it has since been suggested by the naval historian Robert Gardiner that the whole revival was a false economy that did not assist St Vincent's finances as he had hoped.{{sfnp|Gardiner|2000|p=139}}