HMS Anglesea was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Plymouth in 1694. Notably, her construction was not directly ordered from a dockyard; instead, she was built under a commercial contract with Mr. Flint, with labor and materials supplied by the Master Shipwright Elias Waffe from the dockyard. She was ordered on 17 February 1692, the same day as her sister ship, Portland, which was constructed at Woolwich Dockyard. This indicates a coordinated effort to expand the Royal Navy's fleet during this period. The vessel's dimensions and detailed specifications are not provided in the source, but as a 50-gun fourth rate, she would have been a moderately powerful ship of her class, suitable for various roles including fleet actions, convoy escort, and patrol duties. Her service history includes a notable deployment between 1698 and 1701 under the command of Captain James Litteton. During this period, she participated in an anti-piracy mission to Madagascar in 1699, one of four ships dispatched under the command of Thomas Warren. This mission highlights her role in protecting maritime trade routes and combating piracy, which was a significant concern for the Royal Navy at the time. In 1719, HMS Anglesea was reduced in status from a 50-gun fourth rate to a 40-gun fifth rate, reflecting changes in her armament and possibly her role within the fleet. She underwent a substantial rebuild at Chatham Dockyard that lasted until 1725, a common practice for ships of her era to extend their service life and update their structure and capabilities. Overall, HMS Anglesea served as a versatile vessel of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, contributing to naval efforts against piracy and maintaining the Royal Navy's presence across crucial maritime regions. Her history underscores the adaptable and evolving nature of naval ships during this period, although further detailed specifications and service records are not provided in the available source.

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