HMS Dunkirk (1651)

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History
Naval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg Great Britain
NameWorcester
Namesake
BuilderBurrell II, Woolwich Dockyard
Launched1651
RenamedHMS Dunkirk in June 1660
FateBroken up, 1749
General characteristics as built [1]
Class and type48-gun third rate frigate
Tons burthen629 2494 bm originally, 661 8894 after girdling
Length141 ft 5 in (43.1 m) (gundeck), 112 ft (34.1 m) (keel)
Beam32 ft 6 in (9.9 m) (originally), 33 ft 4 in (10.2 m) (after girdling)
Depth of hold14 ft (4.3 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail plan Full-rigged ship
Armament48 guns (at launch); 60 guns (1677)
General characteristics after 1704 rebuild [2]
Class and type60-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen906 bm
Length141 ft 6 in (43.1 m) (gundeck)
Beam38 ft 3 in (11.7 m)
Depth of hold15 ft 7.5 in (4.8 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail plan Full-rigged ship
Armament60 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1734 rebuild [3]
Class and type 1719 Establishment 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen966 bm
Length144 ft (43.9 m) (gundeck)
Beam39 ft (11.9 m)
Depth of hold16 ft 5 in (5.0 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail plan Full-rigged ship
Armament
  • 60 guns:
  • Gundeck: 24 × 24 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 26 × 9 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 8 × 6 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 2 × 6 pdrs

The Worcester was a 48-gun Third rate frigate built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Woolwich Dockyard, and launched in 1651. [1] She was named for the Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Worcester (which took place on 3 September 1651) and was the last major battle of the 1642 to 1651 Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

She had originally been ordered in late March 1649 as one of three Fourth rate frigates to carry 38 guns, but was altered while building and completed as a Third Rate (two-decker) with 48 guns. However she only measured 112 ft on the keel and so had only twelve pairs of gunports on the lower deck (most Third rates had thirteen) and eleven pairs on the upper deck (most Third rates had twelve); she eventually had six pairs of ports on the quarterdeck and one pair on the poop, allowing here to carry a maximum of 60 guns.

The Worcester took part in several battles during the First Anglo-Dutch War. She fought in the Battle of Dover in May 1652, the Battle of Dungeness in November 1652, and the Battle of Portland (the "Three Days' Battle") in February 1653. She also participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz off Tenerife in April 1657 during the Anglo-Spanish War of 1654-60.

After the Stuart Restoration in June 1660, the ship was renamed HMS Dunkirk. [1] In 1692 she underwent a "Great Repair" at Blackwall shipyard, during which she was girdled, with her beam increasing to 33 ft 4 in. She was re-classed as a Fourth rate ship of the linein 1695-96, and then rebuilt at Blackwall Yard in 1704. [2] On 12 September 1729 Dunkirk was ordered to be taken to pieces at Portsmouth, and rebuilt again by Joseph Allin the Younger, still as a 60-gun fourth rate but to the 1719 Establishment. She was relaunched on 3 September 1734. [3]

Dunkirk was broken up in 1749. [3]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 159.
  2. 1 2 Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 167.
  3. 1 2 3 Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 170.

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