Speaker-class frigate

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A group of warships with HMS Fairfax (launched in 1653) at the fore, Royal Museums Greenwich The 'Fairfax', 'Assurance', 'Tiger' and 'Elizabeth' RMG BHC3334.jpg
A group of warships with HMS Fairfax (launched in 1653) at the fore, Royal Museums Greenwich

The Speaker-class frigate was a type of English ship built early in the First Dutch War of 1652. The English government of the day, after it recognised the usefulness of large ships, ordered 30 frigates to be built. An early example of a large frigate, Speaker , launched in April 1650, [1] provided the prototype for the class. [2]

Launched between 1650 and 1654, Speaker-class warships were about 750 tons and carried between 48 and 56 cannon. Their introduction caused the Dutch navy, which was still reliant on the use of armed merchant ships, to become obsolete. [3] Speaker-class ships had much in common with the old Great Ships planned in 1618, being of a similar size, with two decks and a large number of guns. [1] The class set the pattern for all the two-deck ships built up to the 19th century. [4]

The third rate frigates in the Speaker-class built as part of the 1652 programme were Essex , Plymouth , Torrington , Newbury , Bridgewater , Lyme , Marston Moor , Langport , Fairfax , Tredagh , and Gloucester'. [5]

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Bridgewater was a 52-gun third rate Speaker-class frigate built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Deptford, and launched in 1654.

Lyme was a 52-gun third rate Speaker-class frigate built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Portsmouth, and launched in 1654.

HMS <i>Advice</i> (1650)

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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 <i>Centurion</i> (1650) Ship of the line of the Royal Navy

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.

Diamond was a 40-gun fourth-rate frigate of the English Royal Navy, originally built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England by Peter Pett at Deptford Dockyard, and launched on 15 March 1652. By 1677 her armament had been increased to 48 guns.

HMS Kentish was a 40-gun fourth-rate frigate of the Commonwealth of England Navy, built by contract at Deptford and launched in November 1652.

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.

HMS Gloucester was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line built for the Royal Navy during the 1690s. She spent most of her career in the West Indies and participated in the 1701–15 War of the Spanish Succession. The ship was hulked in 1708 and broken up in 1731.

HMS <i>Gloucester</i> (1711) Ship of the line of the Royal Navy

HMS Gloucester was a 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line built at Deptford by Joseph Allin the elder for the Royal Navy in 1710/11. She participated in the War of the Spanish Succession. The ship was burned to prevent capture after she was damaged in a storm during Commodore George Anson's voyage around the world in 1742.

References

  1. 1 2 Lavery 2003, p. 2.
  2. ↑ Lavery 2015, p. 13.
  3. ↑ Dull 2009, pp. 2–3.
  4. ↑ Lavery 2015, p. 15.
  5. ↑ "Objectives". The Gloucester Project. Retrieved 27 October 2022.

Sources

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