HMS Norwich (1693)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Norwich and HMS Enterprise.

HMS Norwich was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford (a commercial yard, not the Royal Dockyard) on 24 August 1693. The last of seven 50-gun ships ordered during 1692, she was given the name of Norwich following the loss of the previous 50-gun ship of that name (which had been launched in 1691) on 6 October 1692.

History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Norwich
Ordered	5 August 1692 (contracted)
Builder	Robert & John Castle, Deptford
Launched	24 August 1693
Renamed	HMS Enterprise, 1744
Fate	Broken up, 1771
General characteristics as built
Class and type	50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	618 1⁄94 bm
Length	123 ft 8 in (37.7 m) (gundeck) 101 ft 6 in (30.9 m) (keel)
Beam	33 ft 10 in (10.3 m)
Depth of hold	13 ft 6.5 in (4.1 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	50 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1718 rebuild
Class and type	1706 Establishment 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	703 bm
Length	130 ft (39.6 m) (gundeck)
Beam	35 ft (10.7 m)
Depth of hold	14 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	50 guns: Gundeck: 22 × 18 pdrs Upper gundeck: 22 × 9 pdrs Quarterdeck: 4 × 6 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 6 pdrs

She arrived at Chatham Dockyard on 15 October 1712 to be rebuilt according to the 1706 Establishment, relaunching on 20 May 1718. In 1744 she was reduced to a 44-gun fifth rate and renamed HMS Enterprise on 23 May 1744.

Engagements

HMS Norwich 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. In 1743 as part of a squadron commanded by Commodore Charles Knowles participated in the failed attacks to La Guayra and Puerto Cabello.

On 23 May 1744 she was renamed as HMS Enterprise and reduced to 44-guns. She patrolled the Caribbean until the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1748, when she was laid up in ordinary.

Enterprise was recommissioned in 1756 at the outbreak of the Seven Years' War, again for service in the West Indies and North America and resumed her duties as Atlantic convoy escort. In 1762 she was present at the siege and capture of Havana, Cuba, an action involving nearly 60 warships and transports enough for more than 16,000 troops.

Enterprise was decommissioned in January 1764 and was broken up in 1771 at Sheerness.

Plan of a furnace for the 1718 rebuild

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.
• Winfield, Rif (1997), The 50-Gun Ship: A Complete History. Chatham Publishing (1st edition); Mercury Books (2nd edition 2005). ISBN 1-845600-09-6.
• Winfield, Rif (2009), British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK; Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6.