HMS Gloucester was a 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, constructed at Deptford by Master Shipwright Joseph Allin in 1710-1711. She was built according to the dimensions specified by the 1706 Establishment, measuring approximately 130 feet 8 inches (39.8 meters) at the gundeck and 108 feet 1 inch (32.9 meters) along the keel. The vessel featured a beam of 35 feet 3 inches (10.7 meters) and a depth of hold of 14 feet (4.3 meters), with a tonnage of roughly 714 tons burthen. Her armament comprised twenty-two 18-pounder cannons on the main gundeck, twenty-two 9-pounder guns on the upper gundeck, and four 6-pounder cannons on both the quarterdeck and forecastle. The crew complement varied between 185 and 280 officers and ratings, reflecting her role as a significant warship of her time. The ship was named after the port of Gloucester and was the fourth vessel bearing this name in the Royal Navy. She was ordered on July 29, 1710, and launched on October 4, 1711, entering service under Captain James Carlton, initially operating in the English Channel. Her early service was marked by participation in the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1724, Gloucester was ordered to be dismantled and rebuilt at Sheerness according to the 1719 Establishment, but this process was delayed until 1733. The ship was then reconstructed based on the 1733 revisions and relaunched on March 22, 1737. Her service was notable until 1742, when she encountered a storm under Captain Matthew Michell. Sustaining damage, she was deliberately burned to prevent her capture during this storm, marking the end of her operational career. HMS Gloucester's history reflects the typical lifecycle of early 18th-century Royal Navy ships—constructed for war, periodically rebuilt, and ultimately lost to the hazards of sea service. Her participation in significant naval conflicts and her destruction during storm damage underscore her maritime significance during her era.

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