A VERY FINE 1:36 SCALE ADMIRALTY BOARD STYLE MODEL FOR THE SIXTH RATE 28-GUN SHIP SIREN [1773]

modelled in alder wood, fruitwood and ebony, the framed hull planked and pinned, with ebony main wale, gun ports with cast brass guns in trucks with tackle, finely carved figurehead with carved decoration along bulwarks and stern, with trophies of arms, scrollwork, caryatids, glazed stern with ionic pillar supports, oxidised brass stern light, the deck with details including bitts with belaying pins, gratings, stove pipe, belfry with bell, well deck with fitted pinnace over with bottom boards, seats, gratings etc., bound cutaway masts, capstan, double helm with 12 turned spokes, compass box, swivel guns etc., mounted on cradle stand to ebonised wooden display base, overall -- 15 x 48in. (38 x 122cm.)

H.M.S. Siren was one of the five ‘Enterprise’ class frigates ordered in 1770 to counter the so-called ‘Falkland Islands Emergency’ [a potential war with Spain following the Spanish seizure of the Falklands that year, having been partially occupied by English forces since 1766]. In the event, the situation was resolved by French intervention although the new building programme was allowed to proceed. Designed by John Williams, the order for Siren went to John Henniker & Co. at Chatham where her keel was laid in April 1771. Launched on 2nd November 1773, she was leisurely completed for sea in the Chatham Navy Yard and finally commissioned in August 1775 under Captain Tobias Furneaux. Measured by her builder at 594 tons, she was 120½ feet in length with a 33½ foot beam and mounted 28 guns, mostly 9pdrs.

Her commissioning coincided with the growing unrest in Britain’s North American colonies and she was despatched to join the fleet then cruising off the eastern seaboard, but her career was to prove a short one. Whilst escorting a convoy en route to Rhode Island in heavy weather, she ran aground on Point Judith, Connecticut, on 6th November 1777, closely followed by a ship and a schooner. The schooner was soon able to free herself and attempted to haul Siren off to no avail. Rebel forces ashore then brought up some cannon and their fire became increasingly accurate on the stationary frigate with the result that Captain Furneaux ordered her to be abandoned as the number of casualties increased. The ship’s pilot and her Master were subsequently blamed for their negligence and were dismissed the service.