HMS '' Phoenix '' was originally built as a fireship . In 1707 , she belonged to Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell 's fleet . She saw action during the unsuccessful Battle of Toulon and was present during the great naval disaster off the Isles of Scilly when Shovell and four of his ships ( , , and ) were lost , claiming the lives of nearly 2,000 sailors . '' Phoenix '' ran ashore between Tresco and St Martin 's and had to be beached , but could be kept seaworthy and finally managed to reach Portsmouth . In 1709 , the former fireship was re-built as a 20-gun sixth-rate frigate . When under the command of Vincent Pearse , she sailed to Nassau , Bahamas in February 1718 , to offer the king 's pardon to pirates who were willing to surrender and abandon piracy . She also played a minor role in the 1740 Siege of St. Augustine during the War of Jenkins ' Ear . In 1741 , under the command of Captain Fanshaw , she was involved in the defence of Charlestown , South Carolina from Spanish pirates
great naval disaster off the Isles of Scilly
Scilly naval disaster of 1707
HMS Phoenix (1694)