Crest H.M.S. SOLEBAY  

PREVIOUS HOLDERS OF THE NAME  

 Crest
The name SOLEBAY commemorates the Battle of Solebay fought between the English and the Dutch on 28th May 1672 and has been given to seven ships of the Royal Navy.

The first was a 6th rate, 32 guns, launched in 1694 and wrecked on Christmas Day 1709 near Boston Neck, with the loss of all crew.

The second was also a 6th rate, 6 gun bomb vessel, built in 1711 and sold in 1748.

In 1742 the name was given to another 6th rate, this time 20 guns.  On 25th February 1744 she captured the Spanish CONCORDIA 30 miles west of Cadiz.  The ship was captured by the French in 1744 and recapture by the ALEXANDER (a 20 gun privateer) on 28th April 1746.  Captain Phillips of the ALEXANDER was awarded a gold medal on 500 guineas for this action.  On 26th May 1758 she fought a gallant three and a half-hour action, in company with DOLPHIN (24 guns) with MARECHAL DE BELL ISLE (44 guns), but the French ship escaped. On 13th January 1761 the SOLEBAY and AMAZON captured the French privateer CHEVRETTE.

The next ship to bear the name was a 28 gun 6th rate, launched in 1763, which took part in the bombardment of Fort Moultrie, Charleston, VA. She also took part in actions in the Chesapeake in 1781, and at St. Kitts on 25th january 1782 when Read Admiral Hood (BARFLEUR) having captured the enemies anchorage at Basse Terre, St. Kitts, repulsed three attacks by Vice Admiral Comte de Grasse (VILLE DE PARIS) with 29 sale of the line. On 5th September 1781, she took part in another action when Rear Admiral Graves (LONDON) with 19 of the line again fought Vice Admiral Comte de Grasse (VILLE DE PARIS) with 24 of the line, 12 miles N.E. of Cape Henry, V.A.. The rear division never got into action. the ship was wrecked in 1782.

In 1785 the name was allocated to a 5th rate, 32 gun frigate built in Deptford. On 23rd November 1799 she captured the French EGYPTIEN, EOLE, LEVRIER, and VENGEUR 10 miles W.N.W. of Cape Tiberon, Haiti. She was wrecked during an attack on Senegal in 1809, but all the crew were saved.

The sixth ship of the name was a 5th rate, ex-IRIS, which was broken up in 1833.

The name was also allocated to an Algerine class mine-sweeper in 1942, but the ship was renamed SKIPJACK before commissioning.
 
Home HMS Solebay  Specifications  Previous Ships The Class   Battles Service  Solebay Association News  Battle of Solebay Association Membership Form 
  

 Please direct any queries/suggestions to Webmaster