HMS Anne Galley

Construction

Anne Galley was originally a commercial vessel owned by merchant George Stevens of Deptford. As built, she was 97 ft 9 in (29.8 m) long with an 80 ft 0 in (24.4 m) keel, a beam of 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m), and measuring 302 ¹⁶⁄₉₄ tonnes burthen. She was two-decked, with a 12 ft 3 in (3.73 m) hold and four 6-pounder cannons located on each side of the lower deck.

Stevens sold Anne Galley to the Royal Navy on 22 June 1739, for £1,209 and a further £87 for ship's stores. On 3 July the vessel was brought to Deptford Dockyard for fitting out as a Royal Navy fire ship. Compartments were built into the hold for the storage of gunpowder and other combustible materials, and a series of small chimneys cut into the deck to help ventilate fires set below. The eight lower deck gun ports were also rehinged so they would fall open when their supporting ropes had burned through, further fanning any flames. Lastly, eight  ¹⁄₂-pounder swivel guns were installed along the upper deck railings, for anti-personnel use.

Naval service

Anne Galley was commissioned into the Navy in late July 1739 under Commander Richard Hughes. She was put to sea in August with a crew of 55 men, and assigned to Britain's Mediterranean fleet under the overall command of Vice-Admiral Nicholas Haddock. Britain was at war with Spain, and Anne Galley was sent to form part of the blockading squadron off the port of Cadiz. She saw no active service during the year, although Commander Hughes was promoted to the rank of post-captain in October. In 1741 she was with Haddock's fleet as it cruised between Cadiz and Toulon without engagement with the enemy at either port.

Haddock was replaced in February 1742 by Admiral Richard Lestock, who determined to take a more aggressive position against the Spanish than had his predecessor. Command of Anne Galley also changed hands, passing to Commander Richard Hodsoll For the next few months Anne Galley was deployed as a messenger to convey Lestock's orders to the captains of his larger ships. She was also part of a small three-vessel squadron sent to the Bay of Ajaccio under Vice-Admiral Thomas Mathews to investigate reports that a single Spanish ship of the line was anchored there for repairs. On reaching the Bay the squadron, comprising Ipswich, Revenge and Anne Galley, encountered and overwhelmed the 70-gun Spanish warship Isidoro. The Spanish vessel was set on fire by her crew to avoid her being captured, and sank in the Bay. This battle was Anne Galley's only engagement under Hodsoll's command, as he was replaced shortly afterward by Commander James Mackie.

Battle of Toulon

France entered the war against Britain in 1743, leaving the Royal Navy's Mediterranean fleet at risk from the combined French and Spanish forces. On 9 February 1744 the fleet, comprising 38 vessels under Admiral Mathews, encountered a combined French and Spanish fleet of equivalent size off the port of Toulon. On the following morning both fleets formed lines of battle. Anne Galley was placed behind the centre of the British line but light winds and heavy swell kept the fleets apart throughout the day. At midday on the 11th, Admiral Mathews observed that the French and Spanish were seeking to depart without fighting, and gave the signal for immediate engagement.

The subsequent battle centred around the Royal Navy flagship HMS Namur and the Spanish flagship Real Felipe. Both became disabled, with Real Felipe losing its masts and suffering around 500 casualties. Seizing the opportunity, Mathews ordered Commander Mackie to bring Anne Galley forward to set the Spanish flagship ablaze. Mathews had expected that the 70-gun HMS Essex would provide covering fire for Anne Galley but her captain, Richard Norris, refused to do so. When asked by his officers why he would not support the fire ship, Norris replied "We must not go down [to her aid]. If we do, we shall be sunk and tore to pieces."

The Spanish observed Anne Galley's unsupported approach and opened fire with the remaining guns aboard Real Felipe as well as those of the 70-gun Hercules. The fire ship was repeatedly struck in the hull, and quantities of gunpowder were blown from the compartments across the decks and into the hold. To avoid casualties Commander Mackie ordered all but five of the crew to take to the boats, which were trailed on the far side of the ship to shelter them from enemy fire. Those still aboard busied themselves by opening the gun ports and scuttles and clearing the deck chimneys to ready the ship for being set alight. While they worked, Commander Mackie waited on deck holding the fuses that would light the explosives stored below.

Sinking and aftermath

Despite these preparations, the fire ship was now so damaged that she seemed likely to sink before she reached the Real Felipe. A Spanish launch was also approaching Anne Galley with the intention of towing her away. To prevent this, Mackie went below and opened fire on the launch with his waist guns to no avail. Eventually, Real Felipe's gunfire hit Anne Galley's bows and ignited the loose gunpowder scattered about the fire ship's hold. Other authors reported that the gunpowder was ignited by Mackie's own guns recoil. Anne Galley promptly exploded, killing Mackie and all others aboard. According to one observer she was "within her own length", or roughly 100 feet (30 m), from the disabled Real Felipe when she sank.

Naval historian William Clowes has described Mackie's handling of Anne Galley as demonstrating "great ability and gallantry." Despite this the fire ship did no real damage to the Spanish, with Real Felipe subsequently towed to safety by other vessels. Those of Anne Galley's crew who had already taken to the boats before the explosion survived the fire ship's sinking and were able to make their way back to the British line.

Captain Richard Norris of HMS Essex was court-martialed for cowardice following his failure to support Anne Galley, but the trial was abandoned in deference to his father, Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Norris. The younger Norris avoided a second court-martial for the same offence by resigning his Navy commission in February 1745.