HMS Prince of Wales

H.M.S. Prince of Wales
Rating: 2nd-rate

Class: Trinity-Class Ship of the Line

Date of Commission: May 15th, 1721

Shipyard: Chatham  Rebuilt: English Harbor Master Shipyard, 1720-1721

Guns: 92

Crew: 600

Status: In Commission.

Background:
H.M.S. Prince of Wales was authorized in the pre-Establishment Royal Navy expansion of 1697-1706. Built in 1700 alongside the HMS Prince George, the ship served with the Home Fleet for much of her first 20 years before being transferred to the Caribbean Station. Arriving on station in early 1720, it entered the English Harbor Master Shipyard for a major rebuid and refit. Captain John Allday, RN was assigned to command of HMS Prince of Wales in April 1721 and oversaw the completion of the rebuild and refit. HMS Prince of Wales was re-commissioned on May 15th, 1721.

H.M.S. Prince of Wales has seen considerable action while on duty in Caribbean Station. This included the January 5, 1722 unsuccessful attack on the French primary port of Cayo de Marquis where the ship took considerable damage while covering the landing of Marines at the port in the attempt to take the town by land. After over four months in English Harbor Master Shipyard undergoing major hull and mast repairs, the Prince of Wales returned to action in the Bahamas where she, in conjunction with 3 other ships, destroyed over 30 French and Spanish warships attempting to interdict Nassau and West End in the first 2 days of her patrol.

HMS Prince of Wales continues to operate regular patrols throughout the West Indies interdicting French, Spanish, and Brethern squadrons in addition to supporting major fleet actions. During a July 29, 1722 patrol in company with HMHV Royal Enterprise II, 16 French and 20 Brethern 3rd and 4th rates in addition to heavy and sleek frigates were captured or destroyed. Among the items salvaged from the enemy vessals, a Precise Optical Rangefinder, Cantonese Powder, Engineered Structure, and nearly 200 tonnes of raw materials, manufactured goods, and shipwright materials. These materials were delivered to warehouses in Spanish Town and St. Johns where they will be integrated into other squadron vessals during scheduled refits in the coming months.

HMS Prince of Wales is currently sailing in the Guyana Area of Operations.

British Captains:
1721-Present: Captain Sir John Allday, KCMG, DSC, MC