Trincomalee, 1817
Type: 5th rate ; Armament 46 (28 � 18pdr ; 8 � 32pdr ; 10 � 9pdr)
Launched : 12 Oct 1817 ; BM: 1066 tons ; Displacement: 1447 tons
Notes:

1847 26-gun 6th rate.

1830 Portsmouth

21 Jul 1832 the Nelson, along with the Hibernia, Bellerophon, Edinburgh, Benbow, Spartiate, Pembroke, President, Naiad, Amphitrite, and Trincomalee, it is noted, in the Hampshire Telegraph, were brought forward to be commissioned last summer, at considerable expense, and except for the Spartiate, Edinburgh, and President, and are now to be put back into Ordinary, also at some expense.

31 Oct 1840 Portsmouth, is ready for commission, the bulkheads and interior fittings being all complete.

7 Apr 1845 at Portsmouth, in the basin, preparing to be razeed.

17 May 1845 at Portsmouth, in dock.

24 Feb 1846 at Portsmouth, in the Basin.

15 Jul 1846 has received her masts.

3 Aug 1847 Master and Purser appointed.

20 Aug 1847 it is reported that there is insufficient room to work the Forecastle pivot gun.

4 Sep 1847 in harbour, fitting for sea.

9 Sep 1847 is recruiting her ship's company.

14 Sep 1847 has hauled off her hulk (usually used for accommodation whilst a vessel it being fitted out for sea) and has commenced painting ship.

15 Sep 1847 swinging her compass.

16 Sep 1847 has gone out to Spithead.

17 Sep 1847 is expected to be inspected and paid tomorrow, Saturday, and to sail Sunday, with her sister ship, the Amphitrite, on a trial cruize. 18 Sep 1847 weather too boisterous at Spithead to carry out planned events. Try again tomorrow, weather permitting.

19 Sep 1847 was inspected by the Commander-in-Chief, and then paid.

22 Sep 1847 having departed on their trial cruize, the Amphitrite and Trincomalee, the weather coming on thick, they put back to St. Helen's a sheltered anchorage on the east coast of the Isle of Wight.

2 Oct 1847 the Amphitrite and Trincomalee arrived in the Tagus, joining Sir Charles Napier's Squadron at anchor.

7 Oct 1847 the Squadron departed on exercises. At 5 p.m. anchored at Caxias.

8 Oct 1847 the Canopus, Vengeance, Amphitrite and Trincomalee departed on a cruise to try rate of sailing etc.

21 Oct 1847 Squadron Exercises see below

20 Dec 1848 North America and West Indies.

11 May - 7 Sep 1854, when notice of war being declared against the Russians was received on the China and Japan station, the vessels on station consisted of the President, Pique, Amphitrite, Trincomalee, Virago and the French the Forte, Eurydice, Artemise, and Obligado. A number of operations appear to have been carried out, none of which were carried through to a satisfactory conclusion - see p. 429-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

29 May 1854 departed from Honolulu to the northward, perhaps in the tracks of the Russian frigate Diana, which left this port the previous day.

1860 Chatham, reduced to a 24

8 Jan 1861 Chatham. Commissioned as RNR Drill Ship for Service at Sunderland.

1864 Home Station, as RNR Drill Ship at West Hartlepool. Report of Measles onboard. Number of Cases of Disease and Injury.

1870 Drill ship for RNR, Hartlepool, 16 guns

1 Jan 1873 Recommissioned

1879 Drill ship for RNR, Southampton Water, 15 guns

1879 Drill ship for RNR, Southampton Water, 15 guns

Apr 1886 Southampton

Jul 1890 Armourer C. Bound awarded LS & GC Medal.

1897 sold as Foudroyant, Training Ship,

1990 Renamed Trincomalee, being preserved at Hartlepool

Naval Intelligence.
Sir Charles Napier's Squadron

Portsmouth, October 21.- The arrival of the Sidon steam frigate, Captain. Henderson, C.B.. enables us to continue our interesting details of the movements of Sir Charles Napier's squadron. Our last were by the Recruit, and dated Lisbon, the 8th instant:

" October 9.- At 9 A.M. signal was made by Sir Henry Leeke, Captain of the Queen, who was directed by the Commander-in-Chief (Sir C. Napier) to superintend and command the whole, for all the boats manned and armed, to be able to land marines and small arm men. At 10 A.M. the boats having been placed in line along the sandy beach, the word was given, "Prepare to land," when each boat dashed to the shore, and to those who were looking on it appeared incredible that in so short a space of time (five minutes), and by the energy and direction of one man, assisted by the officers under him, the whole force, amounting to 1200 men, with five field pieces, should have been landed and formed ready to advance. We speak of the whole, but in doing so we may be allowed to give especial credit to the Queen's men, who, vieing with the Avenger's Marine Artillery, were both positively upon the beach with their field-pieces limbered up and loaded and then formed, before the others were out of the boats. Next came the Caledonia's, close upon the heels of the two former. The manoeuvring of the marines and seamen went off well, and Sir Henry Leeke was heard to compliment Lieutenant Clarke of the Stromboli for the admirable order of his men, and their excellent discipline, as well as for the zeal he displayed throughout the day. At 3 o'clock p.m. the whole party embarked, and although there was much surf upon the beach, not one accident of any sort occurred.

" Sunday 10.- No movements.

" Monday 11.- The marines and small arm men were again landed under the directions of Captain Sir Henry Leeke, the Commander-in-Chief, Sir C. Napier, commanding the whole. The same mode of landing as on Saturday was adopted, but the forming was not quite so quick on account of there being more surf upon the beach. The battalion was, however, immediately formed, and the men were put through their manoeuvres by the admiral in person. Sir Charles Napier then sent to Sir Henry Leeke to say he was with the seamen and marines of the Queen, and supernumerary marines of the Caledonia, to defend a small rising ground, while he, Sir Charles, with his whole force, attacked it. In one moment, Sir Henry was at work with his men, and in a few more a most perfect battery was thrown up, with breastworks, embrasures outside ditch, and seven guns brought to bear. The marines and seamen under Sir Charles N Napier then advanced to the attack, and a variety of interesting manoeuvres, none of them concerted, took place. At three, p.m., the whole party embarked and reached their ships in safety, although a heavy surf was beating on the beech. The Terrible arrived to-day, from the coast of Africa, with the Portuguese exiles. This afternoon the squadron weighed anchor, and took up more eligible berths in closer proximity to the town.

" October 12.- No movements of consequence.

" October 13.-The Vengeance returned today and reported the result of the trials between the Amphitrite and Trincomalee, which is important, and which I give you separately. (See below.)

" October 14.- The Canopus returned today from superintending the trial sailing of the Amphitrite and Trincomalee. whom she had sent on to their respective stations.

" October 15.- The admiral hoisted his flag in the Sidon, and put to sea in company with the Odin and Dragon ; the Odin having six of the St. Vincent's upper deck 32-pounders on her main-deck, in addition to her own usual armament, to have a trial. The Odin carried this extra armament well. The Dragon and Sidon were to try the effect of the extra quantity of coal the latter had on board, the Sidon on having 650 tons in her bunkers, and the Dragon only about 320, her usual quantity. The coals did not seem to impede the Sidon's working, but the Dragon had a slight advantage under steam ; the Sidon's inclination under sail was only four degrees.

The Amphitrite and Trincomalee.

" The trial between these razeed frigates was a special one, in order to ascertain as far as possible whether White's bow possesses any of those material advantages over the old bow which has been alleged it does. The Amphitrite has had White's bow given her ; the Trincomalee remains as she was built. The following is the result:

" On the afternoon of the 8th, the detached squadron, consisting of the Canopus, 84, Captain Moresby ; the Vengeance, 84, Captain Lushington ; the Trincomalee, 25, Captain Warren ; and the Amphitrite, 25, Captain Eden, were despatched from the Tagus on a trial cruise under the orders of Commodore Moresby ; they had a fine leading wind through the South Channel in the following order :-The Amphitrite, the Canopus, the Vengeance, and the Trincomalee. On the morning of the 9th, the Terrible hove in sight, and communicated with the Canopus. She was 30 days from St. Paul de Loando, with all the Portuguese exiles on board, except two, one of whom had died; the other remained behind at his own request. Bomfim and Villa Real were among them. After communicating, she stood in for Lisbon.

" On the 10th the ships tried rate of sailing on a wind, commencing at 8 a.m.; wind S W., under royals, flying jib, and whole topsails, on the starboard tack. At 8-30 a.m., the Trincomalee from the Amphitrite, S. 10 W. 750 yards ; both ships close hauled on the starboard tack, and ordered to chase, S.W., the direction of the wind ; considerable swell from N.W. At 9 the Trincomalee from the Amphitrite, S. 20 E., 1200 yards. At 9.30 the Trincomalee from the Amphitrite, S. 19 E. 2000 yards. At this time both tacked, and at 1030 a.m. their position from each other was the Trincomalee from the Amphitrite, S. 1300 yards. At 11 a.m. the Trincomalee from the Amphitrite, S. 75 W. 1500 yards ; at noon the Trincomalee from the Amphitrite N. 35 W. 1800 yards ; consequently, the Trincomalee had fore-reached 1800 yards on the Amphitrite, but the latter had weathered nearly half that distance on her opponent. At noon the dense fog put an end to the trial, and the ships were recalled by fog-signals.

Second Trial.

" October 11.- Wind west, moderate breeze ; heavy swell from the N.W. Amphitrite and Trincomalee tried rate of sailing, with the wind quarterly, steering S.E., with all possible sail set. At 10 a.m., Amphitrite from Trincomalee S. 45 E. 4000 yards. At 11 a.m. the Amphitrite from Trincomalee, S. 38 E. 3400 yards. At noon, the Amphitrite from Trincomalee, S. 36 E. 5400 yards. At 1 p.m. the Amphitrite from Trincomalee, S. 39 E. 5000 yards.

Yards.
At 2 p.m. Am. from Trin. S. 38 E. 4,300
At 3 p.m. Am. from Trin. S. 35 E. 7,000
At 4 p.m. Am. from Trin. S. 36 E. 5,600

" Thus ended the second trial, the Amphi-trite beating the Trincomalee by about half a mile in a run of six hours, and log distance of forty miles. The breeze during the trial freshened and lulled occasionally, which may partly account for the discrepancies in the dis-tances.

Third Trial.

" Wind west, moderate breeze, north-west swell; ships under whole topsails, topgallant sails, royals. Jibs, spanker. and courses, close hauled, and ordered to chase to the west-ward.

Yards
At 9-80 a.m. Am. from Trin. N. 30 W. 1,200
At 10 a.m. Am. from Trin. N. 20 W. 1,600
At 11 a.m. Am. from Trin. N. 34 W. 2,250
At Noon Am. from Trin. S. 70 W. 1,100
At 1 p.m. Am. from Trin. S. 70 W. 2,100

Tacked together and stood to the southward and westward.

Yards.
At 1-30 p.m. Trio. from Amph. S 78 W. 2,500
At 1-45 p.m. tacked together and stood to the northward

Yards
At 2 p.m. Trio. from Amph. S. 50 W. 3,300
At 3 p.m. Trio. from Amph. S. 5 W. 3,700
At 4 p.m. Trio. from Amph. S. 15 W. 4,270

Recalled by signal.- The Trincomalee during the trial of six hours and a half, had weathered on the Amphitrite 3300 yards, the latter having fore-reached on the former during the same time 3500 yards. In the first trial the Trincomalee fore-reached on her adversary, but the latter had weathered on her opponent. In the second trial the Amphitrite headed the Trincomalee ; in the third trial Trincomalee weathered, the Amphitrite fore-reached. Neither of these ships appear to have more than common weatherly qualities. On the first day's trial, after the general recall had been made, the Trincomalee was observed to raise stays twice.

" October 13, 9 A.M.- Signal is just made, "An, opportunity for letters by Vengeance." She is going into Lisbon, and now the frigates will receive their orders to proceed to their respective stations. (The Canopus despatched them - the Amphitrite to the coast of Africa, and the Trincomalee to the West India station - before leaving the cruizing ground.) "