HMS Looe was a 32-gun fifth-rate vessel constructed at Plymouth Dockyard in 1695/96. Built under the direction of Master Shipwright Elias Waffe, she was launched on 5 August 1696. The ship measured 110 feet in length on her gundeck, with a keel length of 93 feet used for tonnage calculations. Her breadth was 28 feet, and her depth of hold was 11 feet. The builder's measure tonnage was approximately 40,480 tons (burthen), reflecting her size and capacity. Her armament was typical of a fifth-rate ship of her time, initially equipped with four demi-culverins on the lower deck, with two guns per side. The upper deck housed between twenty and twenty-two 6-pounder guns, with ten or eleven guns on each side, providing her with a versatile broadside. Additionally, she carried four 4-pounder guns on the quarterdeck, with two to three guns per side, enhancing her firepower for combat engagements. HMS Looe was commissioned in 1697, commanded initially by Captain Richard Paul, and assigned to service in the English Channel. Her career was brief; she was wrecked in Baltimore Bay, Ireland, on 30 April 1697, shortly after her commissioning. Her loss marked the end of her service, making her a notable example of the perils faced by naval vessels of the period, especially those operating along treacherous Irish coastlines. As the first vessel to bear the name Looe in the Royal Navy, her short service history and early wrecking highlight the hazards of maritime navigation during the late 17th century. Her construction details and armament configuration reflect the typical design and strategic role of fifth-rate ships of her era, serving as agile, versatile vessels capable of a variety of missions including patrol, escort, and combat.

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