HMS Indefatigable (1784) - Design Modification

Design Modification

In 1794, she was razéed: her upper gun deck was cut away to convert her into a large and heavily armed frigate. The original intention was to retain her twenty-six 24-pounder guns on her gundeck, and mount eight 12-pounder guns on her quarterdeck, and a further four on her forecastle, which would have rated her as a 38-gun vessel. However, it was at this time that the carronade was becoming more popular in the Navy, and on 5 December 1794 her intended armament was altered with the addition of four 42-pounder carronades to go on her quarterdeck, and two on her forecastle. Along with Magnanime and Anson, which were converted at about the same time, Indefatigable was thereafter rated as a 44-gun fifth-rate frigate (despite carrying only 38 long guns, which at the time would have led to her being classified as a 38-gun ship, irrespective of the carronades). The work was carried out at Portsmouth, at a cost of £8,764, from September 1794 to February 1795. On 17 February 1795, a further two 12-pounder guns were added to her quarterdeck, though her official rating remained unchanged.