Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | 1649 Programme |
Builders | |
Operators |
|
Preceded by | 1647 Programme |
Succeeded by | 1650 Programme |
Built | 1649 - 1651 |
In service | 1650 - 1711 |
Completed | 5 |
Lost | 4 |
Retired | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type | 38-gun Fourth Rate |
Sail plan | ship-rigged |
Complement | 150/1652, 160/1653 |
Armament | 38 guns |
The 1649 Programme of five additional warships for the Navy of the new English Commonwealth ("to be frigate fashion") was approved by the Council of State on 25 March 1649, less that two months after the execution of King Charles I and the creation of a republican government. Three of these frigates, intended to be classed as Fourth rates, were ordered in late March (although of these the Worcester would be delayed and altered while building to a Third rate), while on 12 April orders were placed for two larger Third rates to serve as flagships for the Winter Guard (Speaker and Fairfax). The vessels as completed would actually have a varying number of guns and the dimensional data would vary considerably. They followed on from the three vessels ordered in December 1645 (the 1646 Programme Group) and four more in 1747 (the 1647 Programme Group). [1]
The construction of the vessels was assigned to the state dockyards. The ships would be designed by and built under the supervision of the Master Shipwright of each Dockyard. As with most vessels of this time period only launch years are available. The dimensions and armament of these various frigates was so varied that it will be listed in the articles on the individual vessels. [2]
By 1660 all four surviving vessels had been reconstructed (although precise details of the work is unrecorded) and the Portsmouth and President were each established with 38 guns and 130 men, while the Worcester had 48 guns and 230 men and the Speaker had 50 guns and 220 men.
Name | Builder | Launch year | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
Portsmouth | Portsmouth Dockyard | 1649 |
|
President | Deptford Dockyard | 1650 |
|
Worcester | Woolwich Dockyard | 1651 |
|
Speaker | Woolwich Dockyard | 1650 |
|
Fairfax | Deptford Dockyard | 1650 |
|
Elizabeth was a 32/38-gun fourth rate vessel of the Kingdom of England, one of four new frigates ordered and built under the 1647 Programme. Her initial commission was in the Parliamentary Naval Force during the English Civil War. During the First Anglo-Dutch War, she missed all the major Fleet actions as much of the time she was in the Mediterranean. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War, she participated in the St James Day Fight. She was burnt by the Dutch off Virginia in March 1667.
Phoenix was a fourth rate of the Kingdom of England. Her initial commission was in the Parliamentary Naval Force during the English Civil War. During the First Dutch War she was taken by the Dutch at the Battle of Elba, but was recaptured during the Battle of Leghorn by a boat attack. After being recommissioned she participated in the Battle of Scheveningen. She went to the Mediterranean in 1658 and remained there until wrecked in December 1664.
HMS Newport was a member of the standardized 20-gun sixth rates built at the end of the 17th century. She spent her short career sailing between New England and Home Waters. She was captured by French Warships in 1696.
The Nightingale sixth rates were basically repeats of the Maidstone Group. Initially two vessels were ordered, however with one lost within months of completion a third vessel was ordered. The main difference between these and the Maidstones was the slight deck over the upper deck to improve defensibility. Their armament was similar as were the dimensions of the vessels. They were constructed between 1702 and 1704.
HMS Squirrel was a development of the standardize 20-gun sixth rates and was built at the beginning of the 18th Century. After commissioning she was captured by French privateers off Hythe in September 1703.
The Flamborough sixth rates were basically repeats of the Maidstone Group and designed and built by Richard Stacey, Master Shipwright of Woolwich. Two vessels were ordered. Their armament was similar as were the dimensions of the vessels. They were constructed between 1706 and 1708.
The Gibraltar Group of sixth rates were basically repeats of the Maidstone Group. Ten ships were ordered with one of a slightly different design and another added in 1711, for a total of twelve vessels. Their armament was similar as were the dimensions of the vessels. They were constructed between 1710 and 1716.
HMS Blandford was a member of the Gibraltar Group of 24-gun sixth rates. After commissioning she spent her career in Home Waters and the Baltic on trade protection duties. She was lost with all hands in a storm in the Bay of Biscay in March 1719.
HMS Greyhound was a member of the Gibraltar Group of 24-gun sixth rates. After commissioning she spent her career in Home waters and the Mediterranean on trade protection duties. She was captured by five Spanish warships off Morocco in 1718 then recaptured in 1719 and burnt.
The Modified 1719 Establishment Group of sixth rates were basically identical to the 1719 Establishment Group except they were two feet wider. One ship would be a rebuild of an earlier vessel and one vessel of new construction. These vessels like the 1719 Establishment Group would have no lower gun ports, however, would have ten oar ports per side on the lower deck. These ships would be constructed between 1729 and 1732.
The 1646 Programme of new warships nominally for the English Navy Royal of King Charles I were ordered during the English Civil War by the Parliamentary side in late 1645. With Parliament on 14 October 1645 approving the disposal of six elderly ships, instructions were issued for the speedy building of other vessels in their place. The Admiralty Committee was instructed on 4 November to "take care for the setting up ... and building of so many ships or frigates as they see fit", and on 2 December it ordered a model to be constructed in order "to build three frigates, (each) to carry 32 or 34 guns".
The 1647 Programme of four additional Fourth rate vessels for the English Navy Royal was approved by Parliament on 9 January 1647, following a recommendation on 31 December 1646 by the Admiralty Committee that four new frigates should be built, each to be of 370 tons and to carry 32 guns. Like the three vessels built in the previous year under the 1646 Programme, each vessel would have eleven pairs of gunports on its sole gundeck, with further ports on the quarterdeck above.
The 1650 Programme of six 510 ton Fourth Rate vessels was initiated by the Council of State on 16 November 1649. On 2 January 1650 the Admiralty Committee confirmed that six 'frigrates' had been ordered at a cost of 6.10.0d per ton. The ships would be built under contract with the exception of one ship built in Dockyard. The ships were all named by 16 August 1650 and launched by the end of the year. Each ship was to carry initially 34 guns and 150 men. This would increase over time
The 1651 Programme of the Council of State of the Commonwealth of England provided for the building of a group of ten new vessels, with the estimates presented to Parliament on 29 May 1651 providing for "one ship and nine frigates".
Phoenix was described as a pinnace in the service of the English Navy Royal. She has no record of service and was not mentioned after 1624.
Marigold was a 30-gun fourth rate vessel of the Kingdom of England, She was purchased from Portugal by Royalist agents then captured and commissioned into the Parliamentary Naval Force as Marigold. She conducted fishery protection duties, sailed to the West Indies and finally was with the Fleet off Cadiz. She was sold in 1658.
Crow was a 36-gun fourth rate vessel captured from the French by the English, She was captured on 9 September 1652 as the 36-gun Le Croissant. She was commissioned into the Parliamentary Naval Force as Crow. She was sold 1656.
The Ruby Group of two 600 ton Fourth Rate vessels were part of the 1651 Programme. They were the two larger vessels. Initially five vessels were specified, three of 410 tons at 6.10.0d per ton and two of 600 tons at £7.10.0d per ton. The size of these vessels grew from the 1647 predecessors with 600 tonners being much broader. The two 600-ton vessels would be completed as 42-gun Fourth Rates.
HMS Looe was a 32-gun fifth rate built at Plymouth Dockyard in 1695/96. Shortly after commissioning she was wrecked in Baltimore Bay, Ireland on 30 April 1697.
With the ascension of Queen Anne to the throne of England, these would be the first vessels associated to her reign. The vessels would be similar to the previous 1694 programme with one exception. The upper deck battery would be fully enclosed with a deck running from the foc's'le to the quarterdeck. This would protect the gunners and battery during an action with the enemy. In 1702 one vessel was ordered from dockyard. In 1703 two more were ordered from dockyard.