Troop Ships:Peninsula War

[herakles]

I hope this time of interest is not out of the scope of people here.

I am trying to obtain information of troop ships used by Britain to transport troops to and from say Lisbon and England in the Peninsula war - say around 1805.

Any information would be gratefully received.

:confused:

[The Sailor]

Well, I've found you one Herakles. The Seahorse.

Check out this site.


http://books.google.com/books?id=QnPjoZs2F2UC&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq=peninsula+war+troop+ships&source=web&ots=ZNksr8UyJx&sig=5u1SoIt9QShJfXUCucIcyoCj-uo

[herakles]

What a good start! Thank you The Sailor for your help.
I have spent days trying to find any information.

Oh! I do like your pic of Perth! Such a history that magnificent ship had. I learned some wonderful stories about her from ex crew members whilst attending the 60th anniversary of the Greek campaign. Where Perth played such an important role. But I'm sure you know that!

:)

[herakles]

Now that I have a name - Sea Horse - I was able to do a search. Found one other reference to her (I think) though it took 12 pages of Google! A pic of a memorial stone in Ireland to the sinking of the Sea Horse and the large loss of life. As the year is 1816, I am thinking that perhaps she is one and the same.

:confused:

[The Sailor]

Cheers Herakles old chap. And welcome to this forum. Sure glad you got a start with your quest.
Better find you an Avatar and signature pic as well, what do you say?
Graeme

[herakles]

Graeme,

I'd really like your help with siggie and avatar.

Wouldn't have a pic of one of our subs from the Dardanelles would you? Such extraordinary heroism and success and never told as part of our ANZAC story.

As I'm sure you know, the RN has a bad press because of its performance prior to the landings. (Was it Roebuck that suggested they could catch German subs with a net????)

The role of the RAN there is never mentioned and deserves to be.

;)

[Batstiger]

Is this any good to you?

Bob.

[The Sailor]

Good going Bob. I cut it down with my software Herk.
Is it what you want?

And you are an Aussie? I sent out a few notes to my old mates to join us.

[The Sailor]

And here's a signature pic for you too. What do you think?
If it isn't big enough when you apply it, I can re size it.

[herakles]

I'm very grateful to the two of you for your help. Now I'll work out how to use them!

I snapped up that great pic of Victory posted in that thread earlier.

Now in return, I'll share one of my favourites with you. This is my favourite period.

I'm afraid that I broke a very long family tradition by being an Army man. My only naval experience was being transported (and being quite sick) in DUKW's!

And Graeme - G'Day!!

Richard

[herakles]

I've got the avatar working but not so sure about the siggie.

And I've modified my profile.

[The Sailor]

Richard, when I joined the forum, I found that I could apply a written signature or a picture signature, but it wouldn't accept both at once.
I had to ask Kc to do it for me and he applied it manually.
I will PM him for you.
Meanwhile try removing the written signature and installing the sub pic.

[herakles]

Took your advice. Still no pic. And I know it conforms to the size demands.

I'll wait for some help. Thanks for arranging that.

2nd Lt eh! I'll make Post Captain yet!

;)

[The Sailor]

After selecting the picture, did you click that little box that says "Incert signature picture"?
Have to use a PM after this Richard.

[Scribs]

I am trying to obtain information of troop ships used by Britain to transport troops to and from say Lisbon and England in the Peninsula war - say around 1805.
Any information would be gratefully received.
:confused:

Firstly I have a bit of a problem with the date, in that the Peninsula war didn't really get going under Wellesly until 1808 : circa Nov 1807 the Portuguese court was in the process of fleeing Lisbon following the invasion of Portugal and was to spend the next few years ruling from Brazil :

http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_History/Vol_IV/Vol_IV_P_317.htm

That said, whilst not bound for the Peninsula War, I note that Nelson, then in chase of Admiral Villeneuve, off Cape St Vincent in the summer of 1805, left escorts

"for the expected arrival from England of a fleet of transports, with 5000 troops on board under General Sir James Craig, induced his lordship to remain a short time off Cape St.-Vincent ; and on the 12th, in the afternoon, the Queen 98, Rear-admiral Knight, and Dragon 74, Captain Edward Griffiths, with their valuable charge, joined company. In order to afford to the convoy an additional protection in its passage through the Straits [of Gibraltar]." This quote is from William James' Naval History of the RN 1793-1827. See:

http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_History/Vol_III/Vol_III_P_333.htm

So it could be that he was on board one of these transports, but not bound for Spain or Portugal.

As per the above, whilst there were a few RN troop ships, most of the troops sent out for the Peninsula War were sent out in convoys of transports ie commercial shipping leased by the War Office, and escorted by HM ships. Whilst the movements of many of the escorts were mentioned in the Ships News section of The Times newspaper at the time, especially if they departed from or called at any of the South Coast ports, they rarely mentioned the transports involved, unless something untoward happened, in most cases because the numbers of ships involved were too great.

Later in the war, although trainsports were still used, worn out RN ships were also used more often to transport troops.

For some of the movements of HMS SEAHORSE around this period see :

http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/18-1900/S/04185.html

[Scribs]

I am trying to obtain information of troop ships used by Britain to transport troops to and from say Lisbon and England in the Peninsula war - say around 1805.
Any information would be gratefully received.
:confused:

Firstly I have a bit of a problem with the date, in that the Peninsula war didn't really get going under Wellesly until 1808 : circa Nov 1807 the Portuguese court was in the process of fleeing Lisbon following the invasion of Portugal and was to spend the next few years ruling from Brazil :

http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_History/Vol_IV/Vol_IV_P_317.htm

That said, whilst not bound for the Peninsula War, I note that Nelson, then in chase of Admiral Villeneuve, off Cape St Vincent in the summer of 1805, left escorts

"for the expected arrival from England of a fleet of transports, with 5000 troops on board under General Sir James Craig, induced his lordship to remain a short time off Cape St.-Vincent ; and on the 12th, in the afternoon, the Queen 98, Rear-admiral Knight, and Dragon 74, Captain Edward Griffiths, with their valuable charge, joined company. In order to afford to the convoy an additional protection in its passage through the Straits [of Gibraltar]." This quote is from William James' Naval History of the RN 1793-1827. See:

http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_History/Vol_III/Vol_III_P_333.htm

So it could be that he was on board one of these transports, but not bound for Spain or Portugal.

As per the above, whilst there were a few RN troop ships, most of the troops sent out for the Peninsula War were sent out in convoys of transports ie commercial shipping leased by the War Office, and escorted by HM ships. Whilst the movements of many of the escorts were mentioned in the Ships News section of The Times newspaper at the time, especially if they departed from or called at any of the South Coast ports, they rarely mentioned the transports involved, unless something untoward happened, in most cases because the numbers of ships involved were too great.

Later in the war, although trainsports were still used, worn out RN ships were also used more often to transport troops.

For some of the movements of HMS SEAHORSE around this period see :

http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/18-1900/S/04185.html

[herakles]

Thank you scribs. I am indebted to you for this most interesting information.

I was in fact thinking of the period of around 1809.

As I said, I have searched in vain on the net for names of troop ships.

Clearly there had to be a significant movement of troops, horses etc. when Wellington made his initial landing in the Peninsula.

But my interest is after that. There had to be considerable logistical support for the army - replacements, feed etc. And seeing as Spain never made good its promise to do this, I guess a lot had to be transported from England.

As you suggest, it looks like the navy pressed commercial shipping for this purpose.

Again my thanks.
:)

[herakles]

I forgot to add that your information of Sea Horse was very helpful. I can now see that she was not involved with transporting at the time I am interested in.

[Redpoll]

Heracles.I have found refeferences in old family letters and diaries to various ships engaged as transports in the Napleonic Wars, particularly Spain and Portugal. I see your post is from a year or two ago so I dont know if you are still interested. Ships:Free Briton, Two Sisters, Henry, all from North Shields

[astraltrader]

Welcome to the forum Henry. :)

Herakles left the forum around 3 years ago but I expect other members would be interested in any information you may have concerning old Troop Ships.

[Batstiger]

I hope this time of interest is not out of the scope of people here.

I am trying to obtain information of troop ships used by Britain to transport troops to and from say Lisbon and England in the Peninsula war - say around 1805.

Any information would be gratefully received.

:confused:

This certainly brings back a few memories Terry! I wonder what became of him?

Bob.

[Redpoll]

Welcome to the forum Henry. :)

Herakles left the forum around 3 years ago but I expect other members would be interested in any information you may have concerning old Troop Ships.

If you have any interest please alert me by email. Cheers Bill Uruguay