1637 Group

Last updated

Class overview
Name1637 Group
Builders
  • Matthew Graves, Bermondsey
  • Mr Trackmore, St Savior's Dock, Bermondsey
Operators English Red Ensign 1620.svg English Navy Royal

Flag of The Commonwealth.svg Commonwealth Of England

English Red Ensign 1620.svg Kingdom of England
Preceded by Crane Group
Succeeded by 1646 Programme Group
Built1590
In service1637 - 1638
In commission1638 - 1668
Completed2
Lost1
Retired1
General characteristics
TypeSmall Ship
Tons burthen304.2/405.5 tons bm
Length90 ft 0 in (27.4 m) keel
Beam26 ft 0 in (7.9 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 0 in (4.0 m)
Sail plan ship-rigged
Complement120 - 1652
Armament30 guns

The 1637 Group of two 300 ton 'pinnances' to carry fourteen pieces of ordnance and sixteen banks of oars were ordered on 12 December 1636. These vessels would carry thirty pieces of ordnance with ten pairs of gun ports on the lower deck with two pair forward and four pairs aft on the upper deck. The waist would be unprotected until two more pairs of gun ports were added later. Their measurements would compare favourably to the 'frigate' type vessels built a decade later. Their beam to length ratio of 3.46 to 1 would make a more true frigate than the Constant Warwick. [1]

Contents

Design and specifications

The ships were built in Bermondsey under contract. Only order dates and launch dates are available for each ship. The specification dimensions are keel for tonnage 90 feet 0 inches (27.4 metres) with a breadth of 26 feet 0 inches (7.9 metres) and depth of hold of 13 feet 0 inches (4.0 metres). The builder's measure tonnage was 304.2 and 405.5 tons. When the vessels were remeasured their dimensions were keel 90 feet 1 inch (27.5 metres) with a beam of 27 feet 4 inches (8.3 metres) and depth of hold of 11 feet 0 inches (3.4 metres). Their builder's measure was 357+9394 tons. [2]

The gun armaments will be specified on within the ship articles as they varied between the vessels. As built they carried thirty guns of culverins, [3] [Note 1] demi-culverins, [4] [Note 2] and sakers. [5] [Note 3] The initial manning of the ships was120 personnel in 1652, increasing to 140 souls by 1653. [6]

Ships of the 1637 Group

NameBuilderLaunch dateRemarks
Expedition Matthew Graves, Bermondsey20 March 1637
  • Converted to a fireship June 1667 then sold October 1667
Providence Mr Trackmore, St Savior's Dock, Bermondsey21 March 1637
  • Wrecked Tangier 31 October 1668

Notes

  1. A culverin was a gun of 4,500 pounds with a 5.5 inch bore firing a 17.5 pound shot with a twelve pound powder charge.
  2. A demi-culverin was a gun of 3,400 pounds with a four inch bore firing a 9.5 pound shot with an eight pound powder charge.
  3. A sacar or saker was a gun of 1,400 pounds with a 3.5 inch bore firing a 5.5 pound shot with an 5.5 pound powder charge.

Citations

  1. Winfield
  2. Winfield
  3. Lavery, page 100
  4. Lavery, page 101
  5. Lavery, page 102
  6. Winfield

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References