English ship Phoenix (1613)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Phoenix.

History
English Navy Royal
Name	Phoenix
Ordered	June 1612
Builder	Chatham Dockyard
Launched	1613
Fate	Not listed after 1624
General characteristics
Class and type	Pinnace
Tons burthen	184.8/246.4 tons bm
Length	70 ft 0 in (21.3 m) keel
Beam	24 ft 0 in (7.3 m)
Depth of hold	11 ft 0 in (3.4 m)
Propulsion	Sail
Sail plan	ship-rigged
Complement	100 (1624)
Armament	in 1624 12 × sakers 4 × minions 2 × falcons

Phoenix was described as a pinnace in the service of the English Navy Royal.

Phoenix was the second named vessel since it was used for a 20-gun ship purchased in 1545, rebuilt in 1558 and sold in 1573. ^[1]

Construction and specifications

She was built at Chatham Dockyard. She was ordered on June 1612 and launched on 27 February 1613. Her dimensions were 70 feet 0 inches (21.3 metres) for keel with a breadth of 24 feet 0 inches (7.3 metres) and a depth of hold of 11 feet 0 inches (3.4 metres). Her tonnage was between 184.8 and 246.4 tons. ^[2]

Her gun armament was in 1624 18 guns consisting of twelve sakers, ^{[3] [Note 1]} four minions, ^{[4] [Note 2]} two falcons, ^{[5] [Note 3]} plus four fowlers. ^{[6] [Note 4]} Her manning was around 100 officers and men in 1603. ^[7]

Commissioned service

She was appointed to escort Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James VI and I, and Frederick V of the Palatinate sailing in The Prince Royal from Margate to Ostend in April 1613. ^[8]

The Phoenix known for its action on the coast of Ireland and west coast of Scotland in 1614 and 1615, commanded by Captain Button. Sir Oliver Lambert, commander of Irish forces for James I sailed in the Phoenix with the Moon to Aulderfleit in Knockfergus to embark 150 soldiers and cannon. They sailed to Islay in preparation to besiege Dunyvaig Castle where Captain Button stayed behind during storms until 18 January 1614, uncertain if there was "safe riding" at the Isle of Texa. The Moon came under heavy fire from the castle while attempting to unload the artillery. Button continued to use the Phoenix as Admiral of the Irish coast in 1620. ^[9]

Disposition

Phoenix was not mentioned after 1624. ^[10]

Notes

1. A sacar or saker was a gun of 1,400 pounds with a 3.5-inch bore firing a 5.5-pound shot with a 5.5-pound powder charge.
2. A minion was a gun of 1,000 pounds with a 3.5-inch bore firing a 4-pound shot with a 4-pound powder charge.
3. A falcon was a gun of 660 pounds with a 2.5-inch bore firing a 2-pound shot with a 3.5-pound powder charge.
4. A fowler was an anti-personnel breech-loading gun that fired either stone or grape shot. the weapon weighed about 5 cwt and the breech weighed another 1 cwt.

Citations

1. Colledge
2. Winfield
3. Lavery, page 102
4. Lavery, page 103
5. Lavery, page 103
6. Lavery, page 103
7. Winfield
8. Foedera, 7 (The Hague, 1739), p. 189
9. The Melros Papers vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1837), pp. 597–605: Calendar of the State Papers, Relating to Ireland: 1615–1625 (London, 1885), pp. 7, 293.
10. Winfield

References

• British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © Rif Winfield 2009, EPUB ISBN   978-1-78346-924-6, Chapter 4, The Fourth Rates - 'Small Ships', Vessels Acquired from 24 March 1603, Phoenix
• Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt-Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © the estate of J.J. Colledge, Ben Warlow and Steve Bush 2020, EPUB ISBN   978-1-5267-9328-7, Section P (Phoenix)
• Lavery, The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War 1600 – 1815, by Brian Lavery, published by US Naval Institute Press © Brian Lavery 1989, ISBN   978-0-87021-009-9, Part V Guns, Type of Guns