History | |
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Commonwealth of England | |
Name | Assistance |
Ordered | December 1649 |
Builder | Henry Johnson, Deptford |
Launched | 1650 |
Commissioned | 1650 |
Honours and awards |
|
Kingdom of England | |
Name | Assistance |
Acquired | Restoration May 1660 |
Honours and awards |
|
Great Britain | |
Acquired | 1707 Act of Union |
Fate | Sunk as breakwater 14 December 1745 |
General characteristics as built | |
Class and type | 50-gun Fourth-rate |
Tons burthen | 513+26⁄94 tons bm |
Length |
|
Beam | 30 ft 10 in (9.4 m) |
Draught | 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m) |
Depth of hold | 15 ft 5 in (4.7 m) |
Sail plan | ship-rigged |
Complement |
|
Armament |
|
General characteristics after 1687 rebuild | |
Class and type | 48-gun Fourth-rate |
Tons burthen | 567+20⁄94 tons bm |
Length |
|
Beam | 32 ft 4 in (9.9 m) |
Depth of hold | 13 ft 0 in (4.0 m) |
Sail plan | ship-rigged |
Armament |
|
General characteristics after 1699 rebuild | |
Class and type | 50/44-gun Fourth-rate |
Tons burthen | 607+62⁄94 tons bm |
Length |
|
Beam | 33 ft 3 in (10.1 m) |
Depth of hold | 12 ft 0 in (3.7 m) |
Sail plan | ship-rigged |
Armament |
|
General characteristics after 1710-13 rebuild | |
Class and type | 1706 Establishment 50-gun Fourth-rate |
Tons burthen | 709+65⁄94 tons bm |
Length |
|
Beam | 35 ft 0 in (10.7 m) |
Depth of hold | 14 ft 0.5 in (4.3 m) |
Propulsion | Sails |
Sail plan | ship-rigged |
Complement |
|
Armament |
|
General characteristics after 1720-26 rebuild | |
Class and type | 1719 Establishment 50-gun Fourth-rate |
Tons burthen | 750+17⁄94 tons bm |
Length |
|
Beam | 36 ft 1.5 in (11.0 m) |
Depth of hold | 15 ft 2 in (4.6 m) |
Propulsion | Sails |
Sail plan | ship-rigged |
Complement | 285 personnel |
Armament |
|
HMS Assistance was one of six 40-gun fourth-rate frigates, built for the Commonwealth of England under the 1650 Programme, after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 she was incorporated into the navy of the Kingdom of England. During her time in the Commonwealth Navy she partook in the First Anglo-Dutch war being present in the battles of Kentish Knock, Portland and The Gabbard. In the Mediterranean she was present at the Battle of Santa Cruz and the bombardment of Porto Farina, In the Second Anglo-Dutch War she was involved in the Battle of Lowestoft, Battle of Vagen and the St James Day Fight. She did not participate in fleet actions after this. She spent the rest of her service life undergoing several rebuilds and plying the waters as a cruiser protecting British trade and projecting British sovereignty. After nearly 95 years of Service she was sunk as a break water at Sheerness at the end of 1745. [1] [2]
Assistance was the first named vessel in the English and Royal Navy. [3]
She was ordered in December 1649 to be built under contract at Deptford under the guidance of Master Shipwright Henry Johnson. She was launched in 1650. Her dimensions were gundeck 121 feet 0 inches (36.9 metres) with 101 feet 6 inches (30.9 metres) keel for tonnage with a breadth of 30 feet 10 inches (9.4 metres) and a depth of hold of 15 feet 5 inches (4.7 metres). Her tonnage was 513+26⁄94 tons. She was remeasured at a later date and her dimensions changed to gundeck 121 feet 5 inches (37.0 metres) with 102 feet 0 inches (31.1 metres) keel for tonnage with a breadth of 32 feet 4 inches (9.9 metres) and a depth of hold of 13 feet 0 inches (4.0 metres). Her tonnage was 567 tons. Her mean draught was 15 feet 6 inches (4.7 metres). [1] [4]
Her gun armament in 1653 was 40 guns. In 1666 her armament was 46 guns and consisted of twenty-two culverins [5] [Note 1] on the lower deck (LD), twenty demi-culverins [6] [Note 2] on the upper deck, four sakers [7] [Note 3] on the quarterdeck (QD). In 1677 she had 2 more sakers added bringing her gun total to 48 guns. In 1685 her guns were established at 50 guns. She now carried twenty-two culverins, twenty-two demi-culverins and six sakers. Her manning was 180 personnel in 1653 and 170 in 1666. [1] [4]
She was completed with a first cost of £3,386.10.0d [Note 4] or 522 tons @ £6.10.0d [Note 5] per ton. [1]
She was commissioned in 1650 under the command of Captain John Bourne for service at the Downs and the east coast of England.
England declared war on 30 June 1652. Her first battle was the Battle of Kentish Knock where she was a member of Rear-Admiral Nehemiah Bourne's Squadron on 28 September 1652. [8] Her next fight was at the Battle of Portland on 18 February 1653 as Flagship of Rear Admiral John Bourne, Rear-Admiral of the Blue. [9] She was taken briefly by the Dutch but was quickly recaptured. Later in 1653 she was under command of Captain William Crispin. She was at the Battle of the Gabbard as a member White Squadron, Center Division on 2–3 June 1653. [10] Her last battle of the war was the Battle of Scheveningen off Texel as a member White Squadron, Center Division on 31 July 1653. [11] She then spent the winter of 1653/54 in the Western Approaches. on 5 (or 8) April 1654 the war was concluded with the 1st Treaty of Westminster. [1]
In 1654 she was under the command of Captain Thomas Sparling until 1660. In 1659 she was on operations in the Sound. [1]
On 20 May 1661 she was Captain Edward Wye With the Earl of Sandwich's Squadron in the Straits. On 10 April 1662 Captain William Berkeley took over after the death of Captain Wye on the 9th. Captain Zachary Brown took command on 15 September 1664.
She partook in the Battle of Lowestoft as a Blue Squadron, Rear Division on 3 June 1665. [12] One year later she partook in the Four Days' Battle as a Blue Squadron, Van Division from 1 to 4 June 1666. [13] On 25 July 1666 as a member White Squadron, Center Division she participated in the St James Day Battle. [14] She sailed with Rear-Admiral Sir John Harmon's Squadron for the West Indies. She was involved in the attack on Martinique on 24/25 June 1667. [15] The Second Anglo-Dutch war ended on 31 July 1667. [1]
On 1 January 1671 Captain John Hubbard II took command. she was in action against the Algerines resulting in the death of Captain Hubbard on 19 July 1671. On 20 August 1871 Captain John Wilgress took over until his death on 9 September 1671, then in 1672 Captain Ralph Lesselles (possibly). Captain Richard Munden held command from 7 January 1673 until 7 November 1674. During his command she was at the recapture of St Helena in May 1673. She returned to Home Waters in late 1674. On 15 May 1675 she was under Captain William Houlding with Narborough's Squadron in the Mediterranean. Captain Thomas Gardner held command from 5 November 1677 until his death on 13 April 1679. During this time she was in the English Channel and later moved to the Mediterranean. On 13 June 1679 she was under Captain James Barber until 4 December 1679. From 18 May 1680 until 27 July 1682 Captain Sir Robert Robinson held command for service in Newfoundland. In 1687 she was taken in hand for a rebuilt at Deptford. [1]
She was rebuilt by Robert & John Castle of Deptford in 1687. She was floated out of dock in late 1687. Her dimensions were gundeck 121 feet 5.5 inches (37.0 metres) with 102 feet 0 inches (31.1 metres) keel for tonnage with a breadth of 32 feet 4 inches (9.9 metres) and a depth of hold of 15 feet 0 inches (4.6 metres). Her tonnage was 567+20⁄94 tons. [16] [17]
Her gun armament in 1688 was 40 guns and consisted of twenty culverins (drakes) [18] [Note 6] on the lower deck (LD), eighteen demi-culverines on the upper deck, four saker cutts [19] [Note 7] on the quarterdeck (QD). Under a 1696 survey her guns were 46 guns. She now carried seventeen culverins, twenty-one demi-culverins and eight sakers. [16] [17]
She was commissioned in July 1687 under Captain Lawrence Wright until 1689. In 1690 she was under Captain Richard Keigwin in the West Indies. Captain Keigwin died on 21 June 1690. She was under Captain Francis Maynard through 1691/92. in 1693 Captain Phineas Bowles took command for a Newfoundland convoy. Captain Edward Littlejohn took command in 1694 for the English Channel and cruising. During 1695/96 she was under Captain Thomas Robinson for service in the North Sea. Captain James Davidson in 1697 escorted a convoy to Iceland. In 1700 she was taken in hand for a rebuilt at Deptford. [16]
She was ordered on 29 April 1699 to be rebuilt at Deptford Dockyard under the guidance of Master Shipwright Samuel Miller. She was floated out of dock in 1699. Her dimensions were gundeck 119 feet 7 inches (36.4 metres) with 103 feet 4 inches (31.5 metres) keel for tonnage with a breadth of 33 feet 3 inches (10.1 metres) and a depth of hold of 12 feet 0 inches (3.7 metres). Her tonnage was 607+62⁄94 tons. [20] [21]
Her gun armament in accordance with the 1703 establishment was 48 guns and consisted of twenty/eighteen 12-pounder guns on the lower deck (LD), twenty/eighteen 6-pounder guns on the upper deck, four 6-pounder guns on the quarterdeck (QD) and two 6-pounder guns on the foc's'le (Fc). [20] [21]
She was commissioned in 1701 under the command of Captain John Graydon. In 1702 she was under Captain Robert Arris and sailed with Commodore John Leake's squadron to Newfoundland at the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession. Commodore Leake sent her to destroy the fortifications of the isle of Saint Pierre. [22] Captain John Edwards was in command between 1703 and 1705. She was in the North Sea in 1705. From 1706 to 1707 she went to Jamaica under the command of Captain Barrow Harris. In July 1708 she was under Captain Caesar Brooks. 1709 she had a new commander, Captain Abraham Tudor until he was killed in action against Duguay-Trouin's Squadron on 2 March 1709. Later in the year she was commanded by Captain William Gray. In 1712 she was sent to Limehouse for another rebuilding. [20]
She was ordered on 15 October 1710 to be rebuilt by William Johnson of Limehouse on the River Thames. Her keel was laid on 23 June 1710 and launched on 16 February 1713. She was completed around March 1713 at Deptford Dockyard. Her dimensions were gundeck 132 feet 1.5 inches (40.3 metres) with 108 feet 11 inches (33.2 metres) keel for tonnage with a breadth of 35 feet 0 inches (10.7 metres) and a depth of hold of 14 feet 0.5 inches (4.3 metres). Her tonnage was 709+65⁄94 tons. [23] [24]
Her gun armament in accordance with the 1706 establishment was 50 guns and consisted of twenty-two/eighteen 12-pounder guns on the lower deck (LD), twenty-two/eighteen 6-pounder guns on the upper deck, 8/6 6-pounder guns on the quarterdeck (QD) and two 6-pounder guns on the foc's'le (Fc). [23] [24]
She was commissioned in 1714 under the command of Captain Edward Vernon for Norris's Fleet in the Baltic. During the Winter of 1716/17 she took Ambassador to Turkey. In 1719 she was under the command of Captain Edward Holland for service with Norris's Fleet in the Baltic. On her return she was sent to Woolwich to be dismantled for rebuilding. [23]
She was ordered on 27 January 1720 to be rebuilt at Woolwich Dockyard under the guidance of Master Shipwright John Hayward. Her keel was laid in January 1721 and launched on 25 November 1725. She was completed for sea on 9 March 1726. Her dimensions were gundeck 134 feet 0 inches (40.8 metres) with 109 feet 8 inches (33.4 metres) keel for tonnage with a breadth of 36 feet 1 inch (11.0 metres) and a depth of hold of 15 feet 2 inches (4.6 metres). Her tonnage was 750+17⁄94 tons. [2] [25]
Her gun armament in accordance with the 1706 establishment was 50 guns and consisted of twenty-two 18-pounder guns on the lower deck (LD), twenty-two 9-pounder guns on the upper deck, four 6-pounder guns on the quarterdeck (QD) and two 6-pounder guns on the foc's'le (Fc). [2] [25]
She was commissioned in 1726 under the command of Captain Nicholas Eaton for Wager's Fleet in the Baltic. Later in the fall she was under Captain George Proctor with Wager's Fleet in the Straits of Gibraltar in 1727. She was fitted as a guardship in 1728. In 1728 she was under Captain Thomas Graves as guardship a Plymouth from 1728 through 1730. During 1729 she was prepared for service in the Mediterranean. She underwent a small repair at a cost of 1,850.10.2d [Note 8] at Plymouth from May to June 1732. She recommissioned in 1738 under Captain John Wynnell for service in Home Waters. In 1740 she was under Captain John Russel with Haddock's Fleet in the Mediterranean in March 1740 then Norris's Fleet from July to September 1740. Captain Roger Martin took command in 1741 for service with Norris's Fleet in 1741. She went to Jamaica under Captain Smith Callis in 1742. She was at La Guayra on 18 February 1743 and at Porto Cabello on the 16th and 24 April 1744. She was ordered Home to pay off in 1745. [2]
After nearly 95 years of service she sunk as a breakwater at Sheerness by Admiralty Order (AO) 10 January 1746 on 14 December 1745 [2] [25]
Bristol was a 44-gun fourth rate vessel of the Commonwealth of England built under the 1651 Programme. She arrived too late for the First Anglo-Dutch War, however, was an active participant in the Second Anglo-Dutch War though in the Third she was no longer used as a line-of battle vessel and reverted to a role of cruising against privateers. She was lost in this role in the English Channel when she was captured by the French. Two weeks she was recaptured by the English and sank in 1709.
HMS Ruby was a 40-gun frigate of the Commonwealth of England, built by Peter Pett at Deptford. She took part in actions during all three of the Anglo-Dutch Wars of 1652–1654, 1665–1667 and 1672–1674. She later served in the West Indies, and in 1683 was sent to the Leeward Islands to protect British settlements against Caribbean pirate raids. In 1687, the English pirate Joseph Bannister was captured by the crew of Ruby and brought to Port Royal for trial. She was rebuilt in 1687. She was captured by the French in October 1707.
Constant Warwick was a 32-gun privateer, built in 1645 as a private venture between the Earl of Warwick and Sir William Batten. Hired for service in the Parliamentarian navy during the First English Civil War, her captain William Batten defected to the Royalists during the 1648 Second English Civil War. After her crew mutinied in November 1648, she returned to England and was purchased by Parliament on 20 January 1649. Described as an "incomparable sailer", she was noted for her sharpness and fine lines, and is considered by some as the first true frigate of the Royal Navy. Mainly used for patrolling, she was captured by the French in 1691.
HMS Assurance was a 32-gun fourth-rate of the English Navy, built by Peter Pett I at Deptford Dockyard and launched in 1646. She was in the Parliamentary force during the English Civil War, then the Commonwealth Navy and was incorporated into the Royal Navy after the Restoration in 1660. During her time in the Commonwealth Navy she partook in the Battles of Dover, Portland, Gabbard and Texel. She foundered in a gale at Woolwich in 1660 and was salved. After the Restoration she partook in the Battle of Lowestoffe, the Four Days Fight and the Texel (1673). She was reduced to a Fifth Rate in 1690 before being sold in 1698.
HMS Adventure was a 34-gun fourth-rate of the English Navy, built by Peter Pett II at Woolwich Dockyard and launched in 1646. With the outbreak of the English Civil War she served on the Parliamentary side until 1649. She was incorporated into the Commonwealth Navy in 1650. She partook in the Battle off Dover in 1652, the Battle of Portland and the Battle of Gabbard in 1653. Adventure was employed on Bulstrode Whitelocke's embassy to Sweden, 1653–1654. After the Restoration she was incorporated into the Royal Navy. She was present at the Battle of Lowestoft (1665) and the Battle of Solebay (1672). She also participated in the Golden Horse and Two Lions actions in 1681. She was in the Battle of Barfleur in 1692. She captured several ships in the later part of her career, before being captured by the French in 1709.
HMS Dragon was a 38-gun fourth rate of the English Navy; she became part of the Royal Navy after the Restoration, built by the Master Shipwright Henry Goddard at Chatham and launched in 1647. She was the first frigate to be built at Chatham.
HMS President was a 34-gun fourth-rate of the English Navy, built by Peter Pett I at Deptford Dockyard and launched in 1650. She was incorporated into the Commonwealth Navy in 1650. She partook in the Battle off Dover and Kentish Knock in 1652, the Battle of Portland, the Gabbard and Scheveningen in 1653. She was renamed Bonaventure in 1660. After the Restoration she was incorporated into the Royal Navy. She was present at the Battle of Lowestoft (1665), the Four Days Battle and the Oxfordness in 1666. She was rebuilt in 1666. She was present at the Battle of Martinique in 1667, Battle of Solebay (1672), Battle of Schooneveld and Texel in 1673, the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690, the Battle of Barfleur 1692.
HMS Reserve was one of six 40-gun fourth-rate frigates, built for the Commonwealth of England under the 1650 Programme, after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 she was incorporated into the navy of the Kingdom of England. She partook in no major Fleet actions during the First Anglo-Dutch War. After the Restoration during the Second Anglo-Dutch War she partook in the Battle of Lowestoft, the Four Days' Battle and the St James Day Battle. She spent the bulk of her service either in the Mediterranean or at Newfoundland. She foundered off Yarmouth in November 1703.
Advice was one of six 40-gun fourth-rate frigates, built for the Commonwealth of England under the 1650 Programme, she would be transferred to the navy of the Kingdom of England upon the Restoration of the monarchy in May 1660. During her time with the Commonwealth Navy she would fight in two major fleet engagements of the First Anglo-Dutch War, this being the Battle of Portland and the Battle of the Gabbard. After the Restoration she would be involved in the Second Anglo-Dutch War specifically the Battle of Lowestoft and the St James Day Battle. She would also be present at the attack on the Vile or better known as Holmes Bonfire. She would see action against the Algerines at the Battle of Bugia. During the Third Anglo-Dutch War she would do battle at the Battle of Solebay, The Battle of Schooneveld and the Battle of Texel. She would also do battle against the French at the Battle of Bantry Bay. She would see service in both the West and East Indies before being rebuilt at Woolwich.
The Pelican was one of six 40-gun fourth-rate frigates, built for the Commonwealth of England under the 1650 Programme. After commissioning she partook in the First Anglo-Dutch War being present at the Battles of Kentish Knock, Portland, the Gabbard and Scheveningen. She was accidentally burnt at Portsmouth in early 1656.
HMS Centurion was one of six 40-gun fourth-rate frigates, built for the Commonwealth of England under the 1650 Programme, she would be transferred to the navy of the Kingdom of England upon the Restoration of the monarchy in May 1660. When commissioned she partook in the First Anglo-Dutch War. After the first war ended she was in the Mediterranean fighting the Algerines at the Battle of Santa Cruz. She fought the battles of Dover, Portland, the Gabbard, and Scheveningen. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War she partook in the battles of Lowestoft and Orfordness. Following the second war she spent her time either in North America or the Mediterranean. She was wrecked in a storm in December 1689.
Foresight was a 40-gun fourth-rate of the Commonwealth of England, after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 she was incorporated into the Navy of the Kingdom of England. During her time in the Commonwealth Navy she partook in the First Anglo-Dutch war being present in the battles of Dungeness, Kentish Knock, Portland, The Gabbard and Scheveningen. She was also present at the Battle of Santa Cruz and the bombardment of Porto Farina, In the Second Anglo-Dutch War she was involved in the Battle of Vagen and the St James Day Fight. During the Third Anglo-Dutch War she participated in the battles of Schooneveld and Texel. For the remainder of her career she was in the West Indies, the Mediterranean and North American waters. She was wrecked south of Cuba in July 1698.
HMS Captain was a 70-gun third rate built at Woolwich Dockyard in 1677/78. After sitting in Ordinary for ten years she was in active commission for the War of the English Succession fighting at Beachy Head and Barfleur. She was in Ordinary until 1706 when she was rebuilt. She was in active commission for the last half of the War of Spanish Succession but fought in no major engagements. She was at the Battle of Passero I 1718. She was rebuilt in 1720/22. She made two forays in to the Baltic though the bulk of her late career was spent as guardship at Portsmouth. She was hulked in 1740 and finally broken in 1762.
HMS Hampton Court was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard in 1678. Her initial commission was to move her to Chatham where she spent in the next ten years in Ordinary. She held an active commission for the War of the English Succession, participating in the Battles of Beachy Head and Barfleur. She was rebuilt at Blackwall in 1699/1701. During the War of Spanish Succession she served mainly in the Mediterranean. In 1707 she was taken by the French and incorporated into the French Navy for four years. She was sold to the Spanish in 1712. She was wrecked in Spanish service off the coast of Florida in a hurricane in 1715.
HMS Lenox was a 70-gun third rate built at Deptford Dockyard in 1677/78. She was in active commission for the War of English Succession fighting in the Battles of Beachy Head and Barfleur. She was rebuilt in 1699. Again in active commission for the War of Spanish Succession fighting in the Capture of Gibraltar and the Battle of Velez Malaga. She followed this with the Battle off Passero. She was rebuilt again in 1721. She was active in the War with Spain, capturing the Princesa then serving in Home Waters, the Mediterranean and finally the West Indies. She was in action off Havana in 1745. She returned home and was placed in Ordinary. She was finally sunk as a breakwater at Sheerness in 1756.
HMS Expedition was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line built at Portsmouth Dockyard in 1677/79. She was in active commission during the War of the English Succession participating in the battles of Beachy Head and Barfleur. She was rebuilt in 1699. Again, for the War of Spanish Succession she was in commission for the operation at Cadiz then returned to England where she sat for two years. She was in the Mediterranean for the Battle of Marbella in 1705. She then went to the West Indies and fought in Wager's action off Cartagena in 1708. She was rebuilt in 1709-14 to the 1706 Establishment. She spent her time split between the Baltic and as guard ship at Portsmouth before being broken at Portsmouth in 1736. She was rebuilt in 1736/40 at Deptford Dockyard.
HMS Mermaid was a 28-gun fifth rate built under the 1651 programme. She was built under contract at Limehouse. After commissioning she spent her early career with Robert Blake's Fleet in action off Dover, the Gabbard and in the Mediterranean. After the restoration she served mainly in Home Waters. After her first rebuild she served in Home Waters, North America, Mediterranean and the West Indies. After her second rebuild she served in Home Waters and the West Indies. Her breaking was completed at Deptford on 26 June 1734
HMS Portsmouth was a 34-gun fourth-rate of the English Navy, built by Thomas Eastwood at Portsmouth Dockyard and launched in 1649. She was incorporated into the Commonwealth Navy in 1650. She partook in the Battle off Dover and Kentish Knock in 1652, the Gabbard and Scheveningen in 1653. After the Restoration she was incorporated into the Royal Navy. She was present at the Battle of Lowestoft (1665) and the Four Days Battle. She was present at the Texel in 1673, the Battle of Bantry Bay in 1689. She was captured by the French in August 1689 and blown up.
HMS Falcon was a 32-gun fifth rate built at Deptford Dockyard in 1703/04. Her initial assignment was with Sir Cloudesley Shovell's Fleet. She was then assigned to the Mediterranean where she was taken by the French in 1709.
HMS Tartar was a 32-gun fifth rate built by the Woolwich Dockyard in 1702. Her initial commissioning was in time for the War of the Spanish Succession. She partook in the Battle of Velez Malaga in 1704. She spent the rest of her career on counter piracy and trade protection patrols. She was rebuilt as a 20-gun sixth rate in 1733. She was finally broken in 1755.