HMS Falcon was a member of the standardized 20-gun sixth rates built at the end of the 17th century. She had a very brief career in the Royal Navy as she was captured shortly after commissioning by two French ships. She was recaptured in 1703 then broken.[1]
Falcon was the twelfth named vessel since it was used for a ballinger dating from 1343 and sold in 1352.[2]
Construction
She was ordered in the Second Batch of eight ships to be built under contract by Nicholas Barret of Shoreham. She was launched on 28 September 1694.[3]
Commissioned service
She was commissioned on 13 October 1694 under the command of Captain Henry Middleton, RN.[4]
Disposition
HMS Falcon was taken on 10 June 1695 by the French 40-gun Le Sainte-Antoine and the 24-gun Le Tigre off Dodman Point. She was retaken by the British in 1703 and broken.[5]
Citations
References
- Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2009, EPUB ISBN 9781783469246, Chapter 6, The Sixth Rates, Vessels acquired from 18 December 1688, Sixth Rates of 20 guns and up to 26 guns, Maidstone Group, Falcon
- Colledge, Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © 2020, e ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7 (EPUB), Section F (Falcon)