HMS Weymouth was a 60-gun fourth-rate ship of the line constructed for the Royal Navy, launched in 1736. Designed in accordance with the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment, she measured 144 feet 5 inches (44.0 meters) in length overall, with a keel length of 116 feet 10 inches (35.6 meters), a beam of 41 feet 5 inches (12.62 meters), and a hold depth of 16 feet 11 inches (5.2 meters). Her armament comprised twenty-four 24-pounder cannons on the gundeck, supported by twenty-six 9-pounders on the upper deck and ten 6-pounders along the quarterdeck and forecastle, reflecting her role as a formidable ship of the line. Her complement was approximately 400 personnel, including four commissioned officers—namely a captain and three lieutenants—alongside warrant officers, ratings, Marines, and various support staff. The Marines aboard were led by a captain and second lieutenant, with additional non-commissioned officers and private soldiers, totaling 60 Marines. HMS Weymouth saw active service during the War of the Austrian Succession, initially operating in the Mediterranean before being assigned to the Caribbean fleet in 1740. She participated notably in the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in March 1741 under Captain Charles Knowles. After a period of decommissioning, she was recommissioned in June 1744 under Captain Warwick Calmady, with most of the crew transferred from the decommissioned HMS Lively. Weymouth then joined Vice-Admiral Thomas Davers' squadron escorting a merchant convoy to the Caribbean. Tragically, her service ended when she was wrecked on 16 February 1745 off Antigua after a navigational error brought her too close to a submerged reef. All her guns and stores were removed prior to her breaking up on 22 February. The court-martial of her commanding officer found him not guilty, but the pilot responsible was sentenced to two years imprisonment. The loss of HMS Weymouth underscores the navigational dangers faced by ships of her era and her role as a significant vessel in 18th-century naval warfare.

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