HMS Success was a sixth-rate vessel of the Gibraltar Group, armed with 24 guns, built for the Royal Navy and launched on 30 April 1712 at Portsmouth Dockyard under the supervision of Master Shipwright Richard Stacey. The vessel was constructed at a cost of approximately £2,093.16.13/4d and was commissioned shortly after her launch. She featured a typical design of her class, intended for versatile deployment across various theatres. Throughout her career, HMS Success primarily served in Home waters, the West Indies, and North America, with a focus on trade protection duties. Her initial command was under Commander John Briscoe, RN, who later became a captain in January 1713, and she was assigned to Virginia. After Briscoe’s death in early 1714, Captain Samuel Meads took command. The vessel underwent several periods of repair and refit, notably a small repair at Deptford in late 1716 costing over £1,300, and a significant refit at Portsmouth in 1724 for nearly £1,866. Between October 1727 and July 1728, she underwent a major repair costing over £4,640, which included a re-commissioning under Captain William Smith for service in the West Indies. HMS Success’s service extended to various theaters, including the English Channel and North Sea, under different commanding officers such as Captains Ellis Brand and John Towry. In June 1739, she was converted into a fireship, armed with 8 guns and six swivels, at Portsmouth, at a cost of approximately £2,552. After conversion, she joined Vernon's squadron and participated in notable actions, including an attack on Charges and operations at Cartagena in 1741. Her later service included deployments to the Channel Islands under Commander Thomas Hanway. The vessel was decommissioned and sold at Plymouth on 22 July 1743 for £450. HMS Success’s career highlights her adaptability and active service during a period of significant maritime conflict, contributing notably to British naval operations in the early 18th century.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.