List of fireships of the Royal Navy

The earliest fireships – ships filled with combustible and flammable materials and explosives and sent into lines of enemy ships to attempt to set them on fire – were small merchant vessels deployed in large fleet actions, such as by Sir Francis Drake against the Spanish Armada at the Battle of Gravelines in 1588.

[1] Fire was a major hazard on the wooden warships of the time, which carried large quantities of flammable and explosive materials into battle.

[2] Successes such as the burning of the Royal James at the Battle of Solebay in 1672 caused considerable interest in the application of such vessels, eventually resulting in the construction of purpose-built ships.

[3] One ship, HMY Suadadoes built in 1670 for Catherine of Braganza -Charles II wife as yacht, had an approximate tonnage of 86 tons.

It was more than doubled to 188 tons when rebuilt in 1674, becoming HMS Soldado a sixth-rate of 16 guns, used as a fireship in the Battle of Bantry Bay in May 1689.

Though this did not result in any new ships the idea was revisited in 1689 with the construction of twelve fireships, similar to existing fifth rates, but specially modified to burn effectively.

The Speedwell was broken up to be rebuilt as a sixth rate in 1715, leaving the Griffin as the only remaining fireship in the navy by that point.

[8] Several frigates were re-rated as fireships during the early years of the eighteenth century, but continued to operate in the cruiser role.

[9] The outbreak of war with the American colonies in 1775 led to the purchase of a range of merchant vessels for conversion, though most spent their careers employed as sloops.

[11] In addition to the ships of the Tisiphone class, the Admiralty expanded its fleet with the acquisition in 1794 of a number of merchant vessels.