A freely and accurately made drawing of HMS Happy Return by Willem van de Velde the Elder or his son of the same name, Royal Museums Greenwich | |
History | |
---|---|
Commonwealth of England | |
Name | Winsby |
Ordered | 27 December 1652 |
Builder | Edmund Edgar, Yarmouth |
Launched | 21 February 1654 |
History | |
England | |
Renamed | HMS Happy Return, 1660 |
Captured | 1691, by the French |
France | |
Acquired | 1691 |
General characteristics [1] | |
Class and type | Fourth-rate frigate |
Tons burthen | 605 |
Length | 104 ft (31.7 m) (keel) |
Beam | 33 ft 2 in (10.1 m) |
Draught | 17 ft 0 in (5.2 m) |
Depth of hold | 13 ft 2 in (4.0 m) |
Propulsion | Sails |
Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
Armament | 44 guns (1660); 54 guns (1677) |
The English ship Winsby (renamed HMS Happy Return in 1660) was a 44-gun fourth-rate frigate, built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Great Yarmouth, and launched in February 1654. [1] Winsby was named for the Parliamentarian victory at the Battle of Winceby (1643).
After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Winsby was renamed, as her original name was incompatible with the restored Stuart monarchy.
The frigate Winsby was a fourth rate, named after the Battle of Winceby (1643). [2] She was ordered by the Commonwealth on 27 December 1652. The ship was launched on 21 February 1654. [3]
The English ship Winsby cost the navy £3,932. It was built at Great Yarmouth in Norfolk under the direction of master shipwright Edmund Edgar. She had a length at the gun deck of 104 ft (31.7 m), a beam of 33 ft 2 in (10.1 m), a draught of 17 ft 0 in (5.2 m), and a depth of hold of 13 ft 2 in (4.0 m). The ship's tonnage was 605 tons burthen. Originally built for 50 guns, [4] by 1666 she was carrying 52 guns (8 sakers, 22 culverins, and 22 demi-culverins). By 1685, this had changed to 48 guns (22 culverins, 20 demi-culverins and 6 demi-culverin cutts). The ship had a crew of 190 officers and ratings in 1666. [3]
Winsby was commissioned in 1654 under Captain Joseph Ames (until 1660), and fought at the Battle of Santa Cruz (20 April 1657). During 1659 she was in operations in the Sound. [3]
Winsby was renamed after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, as her original name was incompatible with the restored Stuart monarchy. [1] Under Ames, Happy Return served in the North Sea in June 1660. In September that year she came under the command of Captain John Tyrwhit. Robert Moulton was captain from 31 May 1664 to 16 August 1664. From 4 October 1664 to 25 August the following year she was under Captain James Lambert—under Lambert she fought at the Battle of Lowestoft (Red squadron, Centre division) on 3 June 1665, and at the Battle of Vägen on 3 August that year. From 28 August 1665 to 11 June 1666, Henry Cuttance was her captain. Happy Return took part in the Four Days' Battle (White squadron, Van division), 1–4 June 1666. From 12 June 1666 to 11 October 1667, she was under Captain Francis Courtney. [3]
Happy Return fought in both Battles of Schooneveld (25 May and 4 June 1673). [5] By 1677. her armament had been increased from 44 to 54 guns. [1] In 1678 she was operating in the Mediterranean, and took part in the expedition to Tangier in 1681. In 1685 she was in home waters and back in the Mediterranean, where she returned in 1690. on 22 April 1690 she captured the 32-gun ship La Vierge de Grace. The following year she saw convoy service off Barfleur [3]
Happy Return was amongst those warships led by HMS Gloucester which was commissioned to convey James Stuart, Duke of York (the future King James II of England) to Scotland. On 6 May 1682, Gloucester struck a sandbank off the Norfolk coast, and quickly sank. The Duke was saved, but as many as 250 people drowned, including members of the royal party. [6] [7]
On 4 November 1691, Happy Return was captured by French privateers off Dunkirk, [3] and was renamed the Hereux Retour. [5]
Royal Charles was an 80-gun first-rate three-decker ship of the line of the English Navy. She was built by Peter Pett and launched at Woolwich Dockyard in 1655, for the navy of the Commonwealth of England. She was originally called Naseby, named in honour of Sir Thomas Fairfax's decisive 1645 victory over the Royalist forces during the English Civil Wars. She was ordered in 1654 as one of a programme of four second rates, intended to carry 60 guns each. However, she was altered during construction to mount a complete battery of guns along the upper deck, and so was reclassed as a first rate.
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.
Nonsuch 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 Krntish Knock, Portland and Gabbard. She was wreck at Gibraltar in 1664.
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.
Elizabeth was a 38-gun fourth rate vessel of the Kingdom of England, Her initial commission was in the Parliamentary Naval Force during the English Civil War. During the Anglo-Dutch War she missed all the major Fleet actions. 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.
Fairfax was a third rate frigate of the navy of the Commonwealth of England from 1653 to 1660. With the restoration of the English monarchy in 1660 she was recommissioned as HMS Fairfax and served with the Royal Navy until 1674.
The frigate Gloucester was a Speaker-class third rate, commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Gloucester after the restoration of the English monarchy in 1660. The ship was ordered in December 1652, built at Limehouse in East London, and launched in 1654. The warship was conveying James Stuart, Duke of York to Scotland, when on 6 May 1682 she struck a sandbank off the Norfolk coast, and quickly sank. The Duke was among those saved, but as many as 250 people drowned, including members of the royal party; it is thought that James's intransigence delayed the evacuation of the passengers and crew.
Sapphire was a 38-gun fourth-rate of the Commonwealth of England. After commissioning she was actively involved in the First Anglo-Dutch War participating in most major fleet actions. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War she was only in the first two engagements then spent her time in Irish Waters and the Mediterranean. She was run ashore due to a pending attack by suspected Algerian pirates on Sicily in March 1670.
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.
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 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.
Yarmouth was a 44-gun fourth-rate frigate of the English Royal Navy, originally built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Great Yarmouth under the 1652 Programme, and launched in 1653. By 1666 her original armament of 44 guns had been increased to 52 guns by the addition of smaller cannon (sakers) on the quarter deck, and by 1677 she carried 54 guns.
Marmaduke was a 40-gun fourth rate vessel of the Kingdom of England, Her initial commission was as a Royalist vessel during the English Civil War named Revenge. She defected to the Parliamentarians then commissioned as Marmaduke. During the First Anglo-Dutch War she partook in the Battle of The Gabbard. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War she participated in the Four Days' Fight. She was scuttled during the Dutch raid on the Medway and sold in 1669.
Amity was a 36-gun fourth rate vessel of the Commonwealth of England. She was purchased by Parliament on 18 January 1650 and renamed. She was commissioned into the Parliamentary Naval Force as Amity. During the First Anglo-Dutch War she partook in the Battle of Portland and the Battle of The Gabbard. She was incorporated into the English Navy after the Restoration in May 1660. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War she participated in the Battle of Lowestoft, the Four Days' Battle and the St James Day Fight. She was sold on 27 November 1667.
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