HMS Paladin

Overview
Rating: 5th rate

Class: Gallant fifth-rate frigate

Shipyard: Quilliam's Yard

Launched: February 13th, 1720

Refit at: Grey Shipyards

Relaunched: April 20th, 1721

Status: In Squadron Drydocks

Armament
Total Guns: 38

Topdeck: 10 x 7lbs

Gundeck: 26 x 15lbs

Stern Chasers: 2 x 18lbs

Broadside Weight: 230lbs

Crew: 390

Commanders
Current Captain: -

Previous Captains:

April 20th, 1721 - November 1st, 1721: Captain Dist

February 13th, 1720 - April 25th, 1720: Captain Collister

Notable Actions

 * April 13th, 1720: Sailed in company of Captains Cornelius Kipper, Lindsay Barylett and Kroga Titans. Encountered lone Spanish ship captained by a Francisco d'Anconia, of the Legion X Hispanica, off St. John's. Gained the weather-gage and closed to engage. Spaniard sunk after sustaining heavy fire from the Paladin and Captain Kipper's vessel; the Blood Pride.


 * April 13th, 1720: Sailed in company of Captains Cornelius Kipper, Marianne Thornton, John Aurbrey, Indy Skyes and Ben Longbowman. Fell under attack from a vastly heavier fleet of pirate ships captained by Poop Decker, Morris Lazaroo, Saar Scoria, Dock Brand and Roderick Bangnsnap, all of the Crimson Blade society. Collister acted as commodore and the British squadron succeeded in damaging all five pirate vessels so heavily that four put their helms to the wind and fled and the fifth, the heaviest pirate ship, was sunk.


 * April 21st, 1721: Engaged Spanish fleet of 8 off Cartagena, had the help of a Intrepid-class fifth rate frigate and a Triumphant-class second rate and a Mercy-class naval frigate captained by Henrik Highway. Before engaging the fleet two Spanish Intrepid-class fifth rate frigate's showed up, one which was Captained by a Banana Boat. Due to insuffcient teamwork between the British captains all british ships were sunk without sinking even one of the two Spanish Privateers.

Ship History
The Paladin was the first ship built by Mr. Quilliam by request of the Admiralty. Captain Collister had been promised a heavy fifth rate and Collister himself recommended the Quilliam Yard as a potential contractor to the Navy Board. The Admiralty reached an agreement with Mr. Quilliam and his yard produced the Paladin. She was built as a Defiant fifth rate, and as such had fewer guns than her current armament and 14 pounders rather than 15 pounders on her gundeck.

She served under Captain Collister for two months, during which she engaged and sank, took or burnt many minor pirate ships, mainly off St. John's where she was stationed. She also partook in two fleet actions and acted as flagship in the second of the two.

On April 25th, 1720, she docked in Port Royal and was laid up in drydock for repairs. However, the Admiralty saw fit to provide Captain Collister with a brand new and heavier fifth rate; namely the HMS Colossus, recently arrived from Europe. Because of this the Paladin sadly remained in drydock for the better part of a year.

It was not until early April, 1721, that another contractor to the Navy Board began refitting the Paladin. Grey Shipyards expanded her armament and upgraded her to her current Gallant class. The refit was completed on April 20th, 1721, and she was relaunched and given to Captain Dist. Captain Dist stayed her Captain for a little more than half a year before moving on to other commands and the Paladin was once again returned to drydock.