List of early warships of the English Navy
Encyclopedia
This is a list of early warships belonging to the English sovereign or the English Government, the precursor to the Royal Navy
of England
(from 1707 of Great Britain
, and subsequently of the United Kingdom
). These include major and minor warships from 1485 until 1660, the latter being the year in which the Royal Navy came formally into existence with the Restoration
of Charles II
(before the Interregnum
, English warships had been the personal property of the monarch and were collectively termed "the king's ships"). Between Charles I's
execution in 1649 and the Restoration eleven years later, the Navy became the property of the state (Commonwealth and Protectorate), under which it expanded dramatically in size.
The dates for ships before 1485 are probably listed using the contemporary English convention of the first day of the year being 25 March
(Lady Day).
In the sections listing warships in the English/Royal Navy from 1485 onwards, the dates have been quoted using the modern convention of the year starting on 1 January, where this information is available. All dates are given in the Julian Calendar ("Old Style").
's History of the Administration of the Royal Navy and in Volume 1 of William Laird Clowes
's The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to 1900.
Note that with the exception of the Galley Subtile and the Great Bark (ex Great Galley) mentioned above, all 15 of the remaining galleasses were classed as ships from 1549.
Also in 1546, thirteen armed rowbarges of 20 tons each were built - Double Rose, Flower de Luce (captured by the French in 1562), Sun, Harp, Cloud in the Sun, Hawthorne, Three Ostrich Feathers, Falcon in the Fetterlock, Portcullis, Rose in the Sun, Maidenhead, Roseslip and Gillyflower. The first three of these were rebuilt in 1557-58 and classed as pinnaces, the next five named above were sold in 1548-49 (for £154.4.0d each) and the last five were condemned in 1552.
Note the number of guns given above is nominal. The much greater figures usually quoted include small/light cast-iron (anti-personnel) weapons, whereas the figures quoted here reflect the approximate number of carriage-mounted heavy bronze guns positioned on the lower or upper deck for anti-ship fire.
Note that ships royal would under Charles I become the first rank (later first rate) ships; similarly, great ships would become the second rank (later second rate) ships; middling ships would become the third rank (later third rate) ships; and small ships would become the fourth rank (later fourth rate) ships - later to be further sub-divided (about 1650) into fourth, fifth and sixth rates.
10 (1636) - Collision 1641 12 (1636) - Blown up in action 1656 14/30 (1637) - Sold 1667 14/30 (1637) - Wrecked 1668
between the execution of Charles I
and the Restoration of royal authority in 1660 saw the full emergence of the ship-of-the-line and its employment during the first Anglo-Dutch War. During this period the English navy technically became first the Commonwealth Navy, later the Protectorate Navy and subsequently the Commonwealth Navy again; the prefix "HMS" is thus not applicable to any English warship during the Interregnum.
The following lists include ships of the line, i.e. vessels of the first, second, third and fourth rates which were judged fit to stand in the line of battle. Smaller warships of the fifth and sixth rates, and the even smaller unrated vessels, appear in the subsequent section.
Under the categorisation as amended in late 1653, the rates were based on the number of men in the established complement of a ship, as follows:
However, there were numerous exceptions, and ships changed their Rating from time to time.
For ships-of-the-line of the Royal Navy
, successor to the Protectorate Navy after 1660, see List of ships of the line of the Royal Navy
(This list has been completed for purpose-built craft, but numerous captured and purchased vessels need to be added)
(note these six were ketch-rigged, three being classed as sixth rates and three being unrated)
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
of England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
(from 1707 of Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
, and subsequently of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
). These include major and minor warships from 1485 until 1660, the latter being the year in which the Royal Navy came formally into existence with the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
(before the Interregnum
English Interregnum
The English Interregnum was the period of parliamentary and military rule by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the Commonwealth of England after the English Civil War...
, English warships had been the personal property of the monarch and were collectively termed "the king's ships"). Between Charles I's
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
execution in 1649 and the Restoration eleven years later, the Navy became the property of the state (Commonwealth and Protectorate), under which it expanded dramatically in size.
Glossary
- BU = broken upShip breakingShip breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially...
The dates for ships before 1485 are probably listed using the contemporary English convention of the first day of the year being 25 March
Lady Day
In the western Liturgical year, Lady Day is the traditional name of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin in some English speaking countries. It is the first of the four traditional English quarter days. The "Lady" was the Virgin Mary. The term derives from Middle English, when some...
(Lady Day).
In the sections listing warships in the English/Royal Navy from 1485 onwards, the dates have been quoted using the modern convention of the year starting on 1 January, where this information is available. All dates are given in the Julian Calendar ("Old Style").
List of English warships before 1485
The following list is based extensively upon that provided in Michael OppenheimMichael Oppenheim
Michael Morris Oppenheim was the pioneer historian of English naval administration.-Early life and education:In 1874, Oppenheim entered University College Hospital Medical School...
's History of the Administration of the Royal Navy and in Volume 1 of William Laird Clowes
William Laird Clowes
Sir William Laird Clowes was a British journalist and historian whose principal work was The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, a text that is still in print. He also wrote numerous technical pieces on naval technology and strategy and was also noted for his articles concerning...
's The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to 1900.
- Note that almost every vessel listed had the words "of the Tower" (or "de la Tour" when inscribed in French, still an official language at the time) affixed to its name. This affix was simply the equivalent of the modern prefix "HMS" and is omitted below.
- Note also that the number of guns quoted in most sources comprised almost entirely small(ish) iron weapons created from wrought material bound into barrels by iron hoops. These were exclusively anti-personnel weaponry; very few heavy weapons were carried, and even these were rarely used for ship-to-ship fire.
- Trinity - Dismantled c. 1409, materials used for Trinity Royal
- Goodgrace (c. 1400)
- Le Carake (ex-GenoeseGenoaGenoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
Sancta Maria & Sancta Brigida, captured 1409) - Christopher 5 (1410/12) - HolkHulk (medieval ship type)A hulk was a type of medieval sea craft, a technological predecessor of the carrack and caravel. The hulk appears to have remained a relatively minor type of ship apparently peculiar to the low countries of Europe where it was probably used primarily as a river or canal boat, with limited...
(similar to a cogCog (ship)A cog is a type of ship that first appeared in the 10th century, and was widely used from around the 12th century on. Cogs were generally built of oak, which was an abundant timber in the Baltic region of Prussia. This vessel was fitted with a single mast and a square-rigged single sail...
) - Trinity Royal (1416)
- Jesus (c. 1416)
- George (ex-Genoese carrackCarrackA carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in 15th century Western Europe for use in the Atlantic Ocean. It had a high rounded stern with large aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was first used by the Portuguese , and later by the Spanish, to explore and...
?, captured 1416) - To Venice 1424 - Marie Hampton (ex-Genoese carrack ?, captured 1416)
- Marie Sandwich (ex-Genoese carrack ?, captured 1416)
- Agase (ex-Genoese carrack ?, captured 1416) - Wrecked on mudflats c. 1418
- Andrew (ex-Genoese carrack Galeas Negre, captured 1417)
- Peter (ex-Genoese carrack ?, captured 1417)
- Paul (ex-Genoese carrack Vivande, captured 1417)
- Christopher Spayne (ex-Genoese Pynele ??, captured 1417) - Sold 1423
- Marie Spayne (ex-Spanish ?, captured 1417)
- Holigost Spayne [Holy Ghost of Spain] (ex-Spanish Santa Clara, captured 1417)
- Grace DieuGrace Dieu (ship)Grace Dieu was launched in 1418 as the flagship of Henry V of England and was one of the largest ships of her time. She sailed on only one voyage, and spent most of her life laid up in the River Hamble, where in 1439 she was struck by a bolt of lightning and burnt.-Construction:She was built to a...
(1418) - Lightning and fire, 1439 - Grace Dieu (1449) - rebuilt 1473, BU c. 1487
- Peter - Abandoned 1462
- Mary 48
- George
- Edward Howard (c. 1466, ex-Portuguese ?, captured 1479)
- Governor (1485)
List of English warships 1485-1603
The lists for the Tudor period are taken primarily from Arthur Nelson's The Tudor Navy (cited in references at the end of this article).-
- Where applicable, number of main guns follows name (see Rating system of the Royal NavyRating system of the Royal NavyThe rating system of the Royal Navy and its predecessors was used by the British Royal Navy between the beginning of the 17th century and the middle of the 19th century to categorise sailing warships, initially classing them according to their assigned complement of men, and later according to the...
). Note that long-lived ships could be rearmed several times. Many earlier ships went through periodic repairs and rebuildings (many now unrecorded) during which their dimensions and their armament changed considerably.
- Where applicable, number of main guns follows name (see Rating system of the Royal Navy
Henry VII (additions 1485-1509)
The number of guns listed in various sources is not really relevant; most of the large number quoted in contemporary records were small anti-personnel weapons, and the number of these would vary from time to time (changes usually unrecorded). Accordingly the figues have been omitted.- Carvel of Ewe (purchased 1487) - last mentioned 1518
- Regent (ex-Grace Dieu) (built 1488) - burnt at the Battle of St MatthieuBattle of St. Mathieu-External links:*...
, 1512 - Sovereign (ex-Trinity Sovereign) (built 1488) - rebuilt 1509, last mentioned 1525
- Michael (1488, a prize taken from the Scots; not to be confused with the much larger Scottish carrack MichaelMichael (ship)Michael was a carrack or great ship of the Royal Scottish Navy. She was too large to be built at any existing Scottish dockyard, so was built at the new dock at Newhaven, constructed in 1504 by order of King James IV of Scotland...
) - last mentioned 1513 - Margaret (1490, a prize taken from the Scots) - deleted before 1509
- Mary Fortune (prototype galleassGalleassThe galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...
built 1497) - renamed Swallow when rebuilt 1512, deleted 1527 - Sweepstake (prototype galleass built 1497) - deleted 1527
Henry VIII (additions 1509-1547)
Heavy (bronze) guns mounted on carriages only appeared during this reign. The concept of cutting gunports into the lower deck emerged early in the period, and relatively few heavy guns were carried. Even the largest would only have heavy guns numbering in single figures, the remainder being small anti-personnel weapons.- Ships (described simply as ships, most were probably carrackCarrackA carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in 15th century Western Europe for use in the Atlantic Ocean. It had a high rounded stern with large aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was first used by the Portuguese , and later by the Spanish, to explore and...
s)- Mary RoseMary RoseThe Mary Rose was a carrack-type warship of the English Tudor navy of King Henry VIII. After serving for 33 years in several wars against France, Scotland, and Brittany and after being substantially rebuilt in 1536, she saw her last action on 1545. While leading the attack on the galleys of a...
(1509) - rebuilt 1536, sank 1545, port-side remains recovered 1982 and preserved at Portsmouth - Peter PomegranatePeter PomegranateThe Peter Pomegranate was a 16th-century warship completed for service in 1510. Its name most likely was in honour of Saint Peter, founder of the Christian church, and after the badge of Queen Catharine of Aragon, a pomegranate...
(1510) - rebuilt 1536, deleted 1552 - Jennet Prywin (ex-Scottish Andrew BartonAndrew BartonSir Andrew Barton served as High Admiral of the Kingdom of Scotland. Notorious in England and Portugal as a 'pirate', Barton was a seaman who operated under the aegis of a letter of marque on behalf of the Scottish crown, and is therefore more widely described as a privateer...
, captured 1511, originally Danish) - deleted 1514 - Lion (ex-Scottish privateer prize, captured 1511) - sold 1513
- Anne Gallant (built 1512) - wrecked 1518
- Christ (ex Christ of Lynn, purchased 1512) - captured by Barbary pirates 1515
- Dragon (built 1512) - last recorded 1514
- John Baptist (purchased 1512) - wrecked 1534
- Mary George (ex Mary Howard, purchased 1512) - last recorded 1526
- Mary James (ex James of Hull, purchased 1512) - last recorded 1529
- Lizard (purchased 1512) - last recorded 1522
- Great Nicholas (ex Nicholas Reede, purchased 1512) - deleted by 1522
- Great Bark 63 (built 1512) - sold 1531
- Little Barbara or Barbara of Greenwich (1512) - last recorded 1514
- Black Bark or Christopher (1513) - last recorded 1514
- Henry Hampton (purchased 1513) - hulked 1521 and not later recorded
- Mary Imperial (1513) - last recorded 1525
- Henri Grâce à Dieu ("Great Harry") 186 (1514) - rebuilt 1539, renamed Edward 1547, but accidentally burned 1553.
- Great Elizabeth (ex Salvator von Lubeck, purchased 1514) - wrecked 1514.
- Less Bark (1517) - rebuilt 1536 and renamed Small Bark, last recorded 1552
- Mary Gloria (purchased 1517) - last recorded 1522
- Katherine Bark (built 1518) - last recorded 1525
- Bark of Bullen (captured 1522 from the French) - last recorded 1525
- Bark of Murless (ex Bark of Morlaix, captured 1522 from the French) - last recorded 1530
- Magdeline (ex Mawdlyn of Deptford, 1522) - last recorded 1525
- Mary and John (Spanish galleon) - last recorded 1528
- John of Greenwich (captured 1523) - last recorded 1530
- Primrose (built 1523) - rebuilt 1538, sold 1555
- Minion (built 1523) - rebuilt 1536, given away 1549
- Mary Guildford (built 1524) - last recorded 1539
- Trinity Henry (1530) - sold 1558
- Sweepstake (built 1535) - condemned 1559
- Mary WilloughbyHMS Mary WilloughbyMary Willoughby was a ship of the Royal Navy. She was appears in the navy lists from 1535, during the reign of Henry VIII. She was named after Maria Willoughby, a lady-in-waiting and close friend of Catherine of Aragon. The ship was taken by the Scots in 1536 and joined the Royal Scots Navy, The...
(built 1535) - captured by the Scots 1536 but retaken 1547, rebuilt 1551, sold 1573 - Matthew (ex Matthew Gonson, purchased 1539) - last recorded 1558
- Pauncy (built 1543) - condemned 1558
- Artigo (ex Ferronière, captured 1543 from the French) - sold 1547
- Jesus of Lubeck (ex-Hanseatic League holkHulk (medieval ship type)A hulk was a type of medieval sea craft, a technological predecessor of the carrack and caravel. The hulk appears to have remained a relatively minor type of ship apparently peculiar to the low countries of Europe where it was probably used primarily as a river or canal boat, with limited...
Jesus von Lubeck, purchased 1544) - sunk by Spanish 1568 - Marryan (ex-Hanseatic League Morian Murryan, purchased 1544) - sold 1551
- Struce (ex-Hanseatic League Struce of Dawsky, purchased 1544) - sold 1552
- Mary Hambro (ex-Hanseatic League, purchased 1544) - sold 1558
- Christopher of Bream (purchased 1545) - sold 1556
- Mary Thomas (captured 1545) - last recorded 1546
- Mary James (captured 1545) - last recorded 1546
- Mary Odierne (captured 1545) - last recorded 1546
- Trinity (captured 1545) - last recorded 1546
- Sacrett (captured 1545) - condemned 1559
- Hope Bark (1546) - last recorded 1548
- Mary Rose
- Carracks (specifically mentioned as such, although most of the "ships" above were probably carracks also)
- Gabriel Royal (ex Genoese, purchased 1512)
- Katherine Fortune (ex Genoese Katarina Fortileza, purchased 1512)
- Mary Loret (ex Genoese Maria de Larreto, requisitioned 1514, but returned later in the same year)
- Great Barbara (ex Mawdelyn, purchased 1513) - last recorded 1524
- Galleys
- Henry Galley (built 1512) - lost 1513
- Rose Galley (1512) - last recorded 1521
- Kateryn Galley (1512) - last recorded 1527
- Galley Subtile (built 1543) - listed as a gallease 1546, condemned 1560
- Mermaid (ex Galley Blanchard, captured 1545) - last recorded 1563
- Galleasses
- Great Galley (built 1515) - rebuilt 1542 as a ship and renamed Great Bark
- Lion (built 1536) - last recorded 1552
- Jennet (built 1539) - rebuilt as a galleon 1558
- Dragon (built 1542) - last recorded 1552
- New Bark (built 1543) - rebuilt as a galleon 1558
- Swallow (built 1544) - rebuilt as a galleon 1558
- Unicorn (captured 1544 from the Royal Scots NavyRoyal Scots NavyThe Royal Scots Navy was the navy of the Kingdom of Scotland from its foundation in the 11th century until its merger with the Kingdom of England's Royal Navy per the Acts of Union 1707.- Origins :...
) - last recorded 1552 - SalamanderSalamander of LeithSalamander of Leith was a warship of the 16th-century Royal Scots Navy. She was a wedding present from Francis I of France to James V of Scotland....
(captured 1544 from the Royal Scots NavyRoyal Scots NavyThe Royal Scots Navy was the navy of the Kingdom of Scotland from its foundation in the 11th century until its merger with the Kingdom of England's Royal Navy per the Acts of Union 1707.- Origins :...
) - condemned 1559 - Grand Mistress (built 1545) - Prototype of galleon, sold 1552
- Anne Gallant (built 1545) - gone by 1560
- Greyhound (1545) - rebuilt as a galleon 1558
- Hart (built 1546) - rebuilt as a galleon 1558
- AntelopeHMS Antelope (1546)The Antelope was originally built as a galleass of the English Tudor navy, launched in 1546. She was rebuilt three times, in 1558 , 1581 and 1618. She thus served in various forms from the time of King Henry VIII to the English Civil War...
38 (built 1546) - rebuilt as a galleon 1558 - George 28 (purchased 1546)
- Bull 26 (built 1546) - rebuilt as a galleon 1570
- Tygar [Tiger] (built 1546) - rebuilt as a galleon 1570
Note that with the exception of the Galley Subtile and the Great Bark (ex Great Galley) mentioned above, all 15 of the remaining galleasses were classed as ships from 1549.
- Other small vessels, classed as pinnacePinnace (ship's boat)As a ship's boat the pinnace is a light boat, propelled by sails or oars, formerly used as a "tender" for guiding merchant and war vessels. In modern parlance, pinnace has come to mean a boat associated with some kind of larger vessel, that doesn't fit under the launch or lifeboat definitions...
s- Great Zabra (1522) - last recorded 1525
- Less Zabra (1522) - last recorded 1525
- Mary Grace (a hoyHoy (boat)A hoy was a small sloop-rigged coasting ship or a heavy barge used for freight, usually displacing about 60 tons. The word derives from the Middle Dutch hoey. In 1495, one of the Paston Letters included the phrase, An hoye of Dorderycht , in such a way as to indicate that such contact was then...
Mary of Homflete, captured 1522 from the French) - last recorded 1525 - Great Pinnace (1544, but may have been the Great Zabra renamed) - last recorded 1545
- Less Pinnace (1544, but may have been the Less Zabra renamed) - last recorded 1549
- Falcon (1544) - listed as a ship from 1557, last recorded 1578
- Roo (built 1545) - captured by the French 1547
- Marlion or Martin (captured from the French 1545) - last recorded 1549
- Saker (built 1545) - listed as a ship from 1557, last recorded 1565
- Hind (built 1545) - listed as a ship from 1557, sold 1557
- Brigantine (built 1545) - captured by the French 1552
- Hare (built 1545) - sold 1573
- Phoenix (purchased 1546) - listed as ship from 1557, rebuilt 1558 and sold 1573
- Trego Ronnyger (1546) - last recorded 1549
Also in 1546, thirteen armed rowbarges of 20 tons each were built - Double Rose, Flower de Luce (captured by the French in 1562), Sun, Harp, Cloud in the Sun, Hawthorne, Three Ostrich Feathers, Falcon in the Fetterlock, Portcullis, Rose in the Sun, Maidenhead, Roseslip and Gillyflower. The first three of these were rebuilt in 1557-58 and classed as pinnaces, the next five named above were sold in 1548-49 (for £154.4.0d each) and the last five were condemned in 1552.
Edward VI (additions 1547-1553)
Notwithstanding the considerable number of minor additions below, few significant vessels were added during this brief reign, and the majority of those that were added are prizes. Except where a fate is stated below, all the following were only listed as king's ships in the year quoted in brackets, and did not appear subsequently in records.-
- Black Pinnace 17 (1548)
- Spanish Shallop 7 (1548)
- Great Bark Aiger (1549)
- Black Galley (captured 1549) - retaken by the French in the same year
- Swift (1549) - listed to 1558
- Moon 12 (1549) - wrecked 1553 off West Africa
- Seven Stars (1549) - listed to 1558
- Mary Norwell (1549)
- John (captured 1549)
- Lion (ex-Royal Scots NavyRoyal Scots NavyThe Royal Scots Navy was the navy of the Kingdom of Scotland from its foundation in the 11th century until its merger with the Kingdom of England's Royal Navy per the Acts of Union 1707.- Origins :...
, captured 1549) - Margaret (1549)
- Nicholas (captured 1549)
- Katherine (captured 1549)
- Small Swallow (1549)
- Bark of Bullen (1550) - given away in 1553
- Jer Falcon (1550) - condemned 1558
- Edward Bonaventure (1551) - wrecked 1556 at Aberdeen.
Mary I (additions 1553-1558)
Contrary to the subsequent Elizabethan propaganda that Mary's reign neglected the Navy, this brief reign saw the addition of the first real galleons (all Henry's new or rebuilt big ships had been carracks) - the first three detailed below - and the rebuilding of six former galleasses to the galleon concept, as well as the commencement of a larger vessel ordered under the name Edward, which was to be launched as Elizabeth Jonas in the first few months of Elizabeth's reign.- Galleons
- Philip and Mary 38 (1554)
- Mary RoseHMS Mary Rose (1556)The Mary Rose was a galleon of the English Navy, built in 1555-56. She was rebuilt during 1589.The "HMS" prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively Her complement was 250 comprising 150 mariners, 30 gunners and 70 soldiers.She was condemned in...
38 (1556) - Golden LionHMS Lion (1557)Golden Lion The 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the Eighteenth Century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a ship of the English Royal Navy, launched in 1557. She was rebuilt for the first time in 1582.By the time of her second rebuild, in 1609, she was known as Lion...
(or just Lion) 38 (1557) - Jennet (rebuilt in 1558 from galleassGalleassThe galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...
of 1539) - deleted 1589 - New Bark (rebuilt in 1558 from galleassGalleassThe galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...
of 1543) - condemned 1565 - Swallow (rebuilt in 1558 from galleassGalleassThe galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...
of 1544) - rebuilt again 1580 - Greyhound (rebuilt in 1558 from galleassGalleassThe galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...
of 1545) - wrecked 1562 - Hart (rebuilt in 1558 from galleassGalleassThe galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...
of 1546) - deleted 1568 - AntelopeHMS Antelope (1546)The Antelope was originally built as a galleass of the English Tudor navy, launched in 1546. She was rebuilt three times, in 1558 , 1581 and 1618. She thus served in various forms from the time of King Henry VIII to the English Civil War...
(rebuilt in 1558 from galleassGalleassThe galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...
of 1546) - deleted 1568
Note the number of guns given above is nominal. The much greater figures usually quoted include small/light cast-iron (anti-personnel) weapons, whereas the figures quoted here reflect the approximate number of carriage-mounted heavy bronze guns positioned on the lower or upper deck for anti-ship fire.
Elizabeth I (additions 1558-1603)
- Galleons
Note that the Primrose and Victory, purchased in 1560, were originally classed as "ships" rather than galleons, but the latter was rebuilt as a galleon in 1586.- Elizabeth JonasHMS Elizabeth Jonas (1559)The Elizabeth Jonas of 1559 was the first large English galleon, built in Deptford from 1557 and launched in July 1559.With a nominal burden of 800 tons, she was the largest ship built in England since Henry VIII's prestige warship, the Henry Grace à Dieu...
56 (built 1557-1559) - rebuilt in 1597-98 - HopeHMS Hope (1559)Hope was a galleon of the English Navy, built in 1559. She was rebuilt in 1583 "into the form of a galleass", and then again rebuilt from 1603 to 1604 when she was renamed Assurance.The "HMS" prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied...
34 (built 1559) - rebuilt in 1604 - TriumphHMS Triumph (1562)Triumph of 1562 was the first vessel of record to hold the name. She was a 60-gun English galleon built in Deptford in 1561-62 and launched in October 1562....
(built 1561) - rebuilt in 1595-96 - White Bear 40 (built 1564) - rebuilt in 1598-99
- BonaventureHMS Bonaventure (1567)Bonaventure was a 47-gun galleon purchased by the Royal Navy in 1567. She was the third vessel to bear the name...
(purchased 1567) - sometimes called Elizabeth Bonaventure. Rebuilt 1581; BU 1611. - ForesightHMS Foresight (1570)ForesightThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a 28-gun galleon of the English Navy Royal, built by Mathew Baker at Deptford Dockyard and launched in 1570. It was a radical innovation over contemporary ships...
37 (built 1570) - the prototype "race-built" galleon - BU 1604 - Bull (rebuilt in 1570 from galleassGalleassThe galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...
of 1546) - deleted 1589 - Tiger (rebuilt in 1570 from galleassGalleassThe galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...
of 1546) - deleted 1605 - DreadnoughtHMS Dreadnought (1573)DreadnoughtThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a 41-gun galleon of the English Navy Royal, built by Mathew Baker and launched in 1573. Like HMS Dreadnought of 1906, she was a radical innovation over contemporary ships...
41 (built 1573) - BU 1645 - SwiftsureHMS Swiftsure (1573)SwiftsureThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a galleon of the English Royal Navy, launched in 1573....
(built 1573) - rebuilt 1592 - RevengeHMS Revenge (1577)Revenge was an English race-built galleon of 46 guns, built in 1577 and captured by the Spanish in 1591, sinking soon afterwards. She was the first of thirteen English and Royal Navy ships to bear the name.Since she was built and served prior to the English Restoration of 1660, she did not carry...
(built 1577) - sunk 1591 in action against Spanish - AidHMS Aid (1562)Aid or AydeThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the Eighteenth Century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was an 18-gun ship of the Royal Navy. She was built at Deptford Dockyard, being launched on 6 October 1562. She was rebuilt in 1580 and was broken up in 1599...
(rebuilt in 1580 from ship of 1562) - broken up 1599 - Golden Lion 38 (rebuilt in 1582 from ship of 1557) - rebuilt again in 1609 when renamed Red Lion (although usually each version was contracted to Lion)
- Nonpareil 38 (rebuilt in 1584 from Philip and Mary of 1556) - rebuilt 1603 again and renamed NonsuchHMS Nonsuch (1603)Philip and Mary was a galleon of the English Navy, built in 1555-56. She was renamed twice during her career — firstly in 1584 to Nonpareil when she was rebuilt at Deptford in 1584, and secondly as Nonsuch when she was again rebuilt from 1603 to 1605.The "HMS" prefix was not used until the middle...
. - RainbowHMS Rainbow (1586)RainbowThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a galleon of the English Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard by Peter Pett , and launched in 1586...
40 (built 1586) – Rebuilt 1617 - VanguardHMS Vanguard (1586)VanguardThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a 32-gun galleon of the English Royal Navy, launched in 1586 from Woolwich, and was the first ship of the navy to bear the name....
40 (built 1586) - Rebuilt 1615 - Ark RoyalHMS Ark Royal (1587)Ark RoyalThe HMS prefix was not used until the middle of the eighteenth century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was an English galleon, originally ordered for Sir Walter Raleigh and later purchased by the crown for service in the Royal Navy...
44 (built 1587) - Built 1587 as the Ark Ralegh as a private venture for Sir Walter RaleghWalter RaleighSir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England....
, but purchased for the Queen while building and renamed Ark Royal. Rebuilt 1608 when renamed Anne Royal; wrecked 1636. - Popinjay (built 1587) - condemned 1601.
- Mary RoseHMS Mary Rose (1556)The Mary Rose was a galleon of the English Navy, built in 1555-56. She was rebuilt during 1589.The "HMS" prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively Her complement was 250 comprising 150 mariners, 30 gunners and 70 soldiers.She was condemned in...
38 (rebuilt 1589 from ship of 1556) - condemned 1618. - DefianceHMS Defiance (1590)DefianceThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a 46-gun galleon of the English Royal Navy, launched in 1590....
46 (built 1590) - rebuilt in 1614, sold 1650 - Garland 46 (built 1590) - sunk as a breakwater 1618
- Answer 21 (built 1590) - sold 1629
- Advantage 18 (built 1590) - burned 1613
- Crane 24 (built 1590) - sold 1629
- Quittance 25 (built 1590) - condemned 1618
- Merhonour 39 (built 1590) - rebuilt 1612-15, sold 1650
- Adventure (built 1594) - BU 1645
- Due RepulseHMS Repulse (1596)Repulse,The 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively sometimes written as Due Repulse, was a 40/48-gun ship of the English Navy Royal, launched in 1596....
40/48 (built 1595) – also known as Repulse', rebuilt 1610 - WarspiteHMS Warspite (1596)WarspiteThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the eighteenth century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was a great ship of the English Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard by the master shipwright Edward Stevens, and launched about 1 March 1596...
29 (built 1596) - converted to lighter 1635 - Saint Andrew 50 (Spanish San Andreas, captured 1596) - given away 1604
- Saint Matthew 50 (Spanish San Mateo, captured 1596) - given away 1604
- Elizabeth Jonas
- Galleys
- Speedwell (captured 1560 from the French) - broken up 1580
- Trywright (captured 1560 from the French) - broken up 1579
- Ellynore (presented 1562 by the French) - renamed Bonavolia 1584, sold 1600
- Mercury (built 1592) - sold 1611
- La Superlativa (built 1601) - condemned 1618, sold 1629
- La Advantagia (built 1601) - condemned 1618, sold 1629
- La Volatillia (built 1602) - condemned 1618, sold 1629
- La Gallarita (built 1602) - condemned 1618, sold 1629
- Other ships
- Sprite (captured from the French 1558) - deleted 1559
- Minion (purchased 1558) - sold 1570
- Bark of Bullen (built 1669) - deleted 1578
- Mary Grace (storeship, captured 1560) - deleted 1562
- AidHMS Aid (1562)Aid or AydeThe 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the Eighteenth Century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively was an 18-gun ship of the Royal Navy. She was built at Deptford Dockyard, being launched on 6 October 1562. She was rebuilt in 1580 and was broken up in 1599...
(1562) - rebuilt 1580 as a galleon - Post (brigantine, built 1562) - deleted 1566
- Makeshift (brigantine, built 1563) - deleted 1564
- Search (brigantine, built 1563) - sold 1564
- Guide (brigantine, built 1563) - deleted 1563
- Swallow (1573) - rebuilt 1580; condemned 1603.
- Tramontana (bark, built 1586) - broken up 1618
- Hart 56
- San Felipe (ex-Spanish San Felipe, captured 1587) - was not added to the English Navy
- Dainty (exploration vessel, purchased 1589) - captured by the Spanish 1594
- Black Dog (captured 1590) - not listed after 1590
- Lion's Whelp (acquired 1590) - lost at sea 1591
- Primrose Hoy (hoy, built 1590) - condemned 1618
- French Frigate (pinnace, captured from the French 1591) - renamed Primrose 1612, condemned 1618
- Flight (built 1592) - not listed after 1592
- Madre de Dios (ex-Portuguese Madre de Dios, captured 1592) - was not added to the English Navy
- Eagle (hulk, ex Eagle of Lubeck, purchased 1592) - sold 1683
- Flirt (acquired 1592) - not mwentionred after 1592
- Hawk (exploration vessel, acquired 1593) - not listed after 1593
- Minnikin (acquired 1594) - not listed after 1595
- Francis (exploration vessel, acquired 1595) - captured by Spain 1595
- Splendid (acquired 1597) - not listed after 1597
- Daisy (pink, acquired 1599) - not listed after 1599
- Bear (built 1599) - not listed after 1599
- Discovery (exploration vessel, acquired 1600) - deleted 1620
- Lion's Whelp (ketch, purchased 1601) - given away 1625
List of English warships (1603-1642)
- Number of main guns follows name (see Rating system of the Royal NavyRating system of the Royal NavyThe rating system of the Royal Navy and its predecessors was used by the British Royal Navy between the beginning of the 17th century and the middle of the 19th century to categorise sailing warships, initially classing them according to their assigned complement of men, and later according to the...
). For many early warships, the published "number of guns" included smaller anti-personnel weapons (mounted on swivels), whereas for strict comparison with later data only carriage-mounted heavy guns should be included. - The major ships (from 1618 onwards) are included in pages 158-159 of The Ship of the Line, Volume I, by Brian Lavery, published by Conways, 1983, ISBN 0-85177-252-8. Lesser warships ("below the line") are taken from A History of the Administration on the Royal Navy (sic!) 1509-1660, by Michael Oppenheim, published by the Bodley Head, 1896. Both lists are augmented from British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603-1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates, by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, 2009, ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6.
Major ships existing in 1618
- Ships royal all the ships listed (except Prince Royal) were rebuilds of earlier ships
- 55 (1610) - which, while a new ship, was built as a replacement for the former Victory.
- 51 (1599) – Sold 1629
- 40/44 (1615) - Sold 1650
- 42 (1608) – ex-Ark Royal, wrecked 1636, refloated and BU 1638?
- Great ships all the ships listed (except Warspite) were rebuilds of earlier ships
- 40/48 (1610) – also known as Repulse', BU 1645
- 38/40 (1615) - Sold 1650
- 29 (1596) – Harbour service (converted to lighter) 1635
- 38 (1609) – also known as Lion, rebuilt 1640
- (1615) – Rebuilt 1631
- 40 (1617) – Sunk at Sheerness 1680
- 38 (1603) – Sold c. 1645
- Middling ships all the ships listed were rebuilds of earlier ships
- 30/32 (1614) - BU 1648
- 42 (1607) – ex-Swiftsure, lost 1624
- 34/38 (1618) - Burnt 1649
New and Rebuilt Ships, James I (1603-1625)
For the first time, under the Stuart monarchy, a division of the Navy into different categories was initiated. The largest of the great ships were categorised as ships royal, while the remainder were grouped as middling ships or small ships.Note that ships royal would under Charles I become the first rank (later first rate) ships; similarly, great ships would become the second rank (later second rate) ships; middling ships would become the third rank (later third rate) ships; and small ships would become the fourth rank (later fourth rate) ships - later to be further sub-divided (about 1650) into fourth, fifth and sixth rates.
- Ships royal (later, first rank ships)
- 40 guns (1608) - a rebuilding of the Ark Royal of 1587.
- 51 guns (1610) - a replacement for (not a rebuilding of) the Victory of 1560.
- 40 guns (1615) - a rebuilding of the ship of 1590.
- Great ships (later, second rank ships)
Originally with 32-34 guns, by 1660 this had increased to 56 guns (64 in the Triumph).- 34 guns (1605) - a second rebuilding of the Hope of 1559.
- 32 guns (1605) - a rebuilding of the Nonpareil of 1584 (itself a rebuilding of the Philip and Mary of 1556.
- 32 guns (1609) - a second rebuilding of the Golden Lion of 1557.
- 34 guns (1610) - a rebuilding of the ship of 1596.
- 34 guns (1613) - a rebuilding of the ship of 1590.
- 34 guns (1615) - a rebuilding of the ship of 1586.
- 34 guns (1615) - a rebuilding of the ship of 1586.
- 42 (1619) – Joined Royalists June 1648, lost September 1651.
- 42 (1620) – Rebuilt 1666.
- 42 (1621) – Rebuilt 1654.
- 42 (1622) - Renamed George 1649 but resumed name St George 1660, hulkHulk (ship)A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. Although sometimes used to describe a ship that has been launched but not completed, the term most often refers to an old ship that has had its rigging or internal equipment removed, retaining only its flotational qualities...
ed 1687 and then sunk as a blockship 1697. - 42 (1622) - Renamed Andrew 1649 but resumed name St Andrew 1660, wrecked 1666.
- 42 (1623) - Sold 1688.
- Middling ships (later, third rank ships)
Originally with only 28 or 30 guns, this was raised to 30-34 by 1633 and 40 guns by 1652.- 29 guns (1607) - a second rebuilding of the Swiftsure of 1592.
- 28 guns (1614) - a second rebuilding of the ship of 1573.
- 30 guns (1618) - a second rebuilding of the ship of 1546.
- 28 (1619) - Burnt 1658 by accident.
- 28 (1620) - Captured by the Netherlands at the Battle of DungenessBattle of DungenessThe naval Battle of Dungeness took place on 10 December 1652 during the First Anglo-Dutch War near the cape of Dungeness in Kent.- Background :...
, 1652. - 30 (1621) - Blew up and sunk at the Battle of LeghornBattle of LeghornThe naval Battle of Leghorn took place on 14 March 1653, during the First Anglo-Dutch War, near Leghorn , Italy. It was a victory of a Dutch fleet under Commodore Johan van Galen over an English squadron under Captain Henry Appleton...
, 1653. - 30 guns (1620) - built as the Destiny for Sir Walter RaleghWalter RaleighSir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England....
in 1616, and acquired by the Navy in 1620 - sold at Lisbon by the Royalists 1650.
- Small ships (later, fourth rank ships)
- 18 guns (1613) - not mentioned after 1624.
- 26 (1623) - Wrecked 1650.
New and rebuilt ships, Charles I (1625-1642)
Note that this list only included the first part of Charles's reign preceding the English Civil War (i.e. up to 1642), Subsequent acquisitions are listed in the following section.- First rank (ships royal)
- 102 (1637) - Renamed Sovereign, renamed Royal Sovereign, rebuilt 1660
- First Rank, 70 (rebuilt 1641) - Rearmed to 80, rebuilt again 1663
- Second rank (great ships)
- Second Rank, 40 (rebuilt 1629) - Rearmed to 56 guns by 1660, sunk as a breakwater 1680.
- Second Rank, 40 (rebuilt 1631) - Rearmed to 56, wrecked, sold 1667
- 44 (1632) - Renamed Liberty 1649, wrecked 1650
- 42 (1633) - Renamed Paragon 1650, lost 1655
- 48 (c. 1634) – rearmed as 60 guns by 1660, sold 1682
- 46 (1634) - rearmed as 56 guns by 1660, sold 1688
- Third rank (middling ships)
- 34 (1635) - Captured by Netherlands 1653
- 34 (c. 1634)
- Third Rank, 40 (rebuilt 1640) – Rebuilt again 1658
Lesser ships
Early frigates10 (1636) - Collision 1641 12 (1636) - Blown up in action 1656 14/30 (1637) - Sold 1667 14/30 (1637) - Wrecked 1668
Captured ships, 1625-1636
(ex-French, captured 1625) 38 (ex-French, captured 1625) (ex-French, captured 1625) (ex-French, captured 1626) (ex-French, captured 1626) (ex-French, captured 1627) 42 (ex-Dutch, captured 1627 from French) (ex-Dunkirker, captured 1635) - Sunk 1638 6 (ex-Dunkirker, captured 1636) - Sold 1657List of major English warships of the English Civil War, the Commonwealth and Protectorate (1642-1660)
The interregnumEnglish Interregnum
The English Interregnum was the period of parliamentary and military rule by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the Commonwealth of England after the English Civil War...
between the execution of Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
and the Restoration of royal authority in 1660 saw the full emergence of the ship-of-the-line and its employment during the first Anglo-Dutch War. During this period the English navy technically became first the Commonwealth Navy, later the Protectorate Navy and subsequently the Commonwealth Navy again; the prefix "HMS" is thus not applicable to any English warship during the Interregnum.
The following lists include ships of the line, i.e. vessels of the first, second, third and fourth rates which were judged fit to stand in the line of battle. Smaller warships of the fifth and sixth rates, and the even smaller unrated vessels, appear in the subsequent section.
Under the categorisation as amended in late 1653, the rates were based on the number of men in the established complement of a ship, as follows:
- First rate, 400 men and over.
- Second rate, 300 men and up to 399.
- Third rate, 200 men and up to 299.
- Fourth rate, 140 men and up to 199.
However, there were numerous exceptions, and ships changed their Rating from time to time.
- Number of main guns follows name (see rating system of the Royal NavyRating system of the Royal NavyThe rating system of the Royal Navy and its predecessors was used by the British Royal Navy between the beginning of the 17th century and the middle of the 19th century to categorise sailing warships, initially classing them according to their assigned complement of men, and later according to the...
)
- The larger ships are listed in pages 159-160 of The Ship of the Line Volume I, by Brian Lavery, published by Conways, 1983, ISBN 0-85177-252-8, and more fully in British Warships in the Age of Sail: 1603-1714, by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, 2009, ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6. Lesser warships ("below the line") are taken from A History of the Administration on the Royal Navy (sic!) 1509-1660, by Michael Oppenheim, published by the Bodley Head, 1896, as well as from Winfield's book.
- The frigates listed here are not the type of vessel known as frigates in the 18th and 19th centuries. The term in the 17th century signified a fast vessel, with low superstructure to give more stability.
First and second rates (three-decked ships)
A programme comprising four second rates of 60 guns each was adopted in 1654. However, of these four ships the Naseby was completed as a first rate, while the Richard was reclassed as a first rate in 1660.- First rate
- NasebyHMS Royal Charles (1655)Royal Charles was an 80-gun first-rate three-decker ship of the line of the English Navy. She was originally called the Naseby, built by Peter Pett, and launched at Woolwich dockyard in 1655, for the navy of the Commonwealth of England, and named in honour of Oliver Cromwell's decisive 1645...
80 (1655) - Renamed Royal Charles 1660, captured by the Netherlands, 1667, BU.
- Naseby
- Second rates
- 70 (1658) - Renamed Royal James 1660, burnt 1667.
- 64 (1656) - Renamed Henry 1660, rearmed to 82, burnt by accident in 1682.
- 64 (1656) - Blown up by accident in 1665.
Early frigates (fourth rates)
- The 'first' English frigate
- 32 (1645) built as a private venture; she was hired by the Navy from 1646, and purchased outright in 1649 - BU 1666 for rebuild
- 1646 programme group
- 32 (1646) - Sold 1698
- 34 (1646) - BU 1688 for rebuild
- 34 (1646) - Wrecked 1664
- 1647 programme group
- 32 (1647) - BU 1690 for rebuild
- 32 (1647) - Burnt 1667
- 32 (1647) - Captured by the Netherlands at the Battle of ElbaBattle of ElbaThe naval Battle of Elba was a naval battle which took place on 6 September 1652 between a Dutch fleet under Johan van Galen and an English fleet under Richard Badiley.- Battle :...
, 1652, recaptured 1652, wrecked 1664 - 32 (1647) - BU 1681 for rebuild
Later frigates (third and fourth rates)
- Great frigate (second rate)
- 56 (c. 1651) - Wrecked 1652
- Speaker group third rate frigates
- 52 (c. 1650) - Burnt 1653
- 50 (c. 1650) - Renamed Mary 1660
- 1649 programme group, third rate frigates
- 48 (c. 1651) - Renamed Dunkirk 1660
- 1652 programme group, third rate frigates
- 48 (c. 1653) - Captured by the Netherlands at the Four Days BattleFour Days BattleThe Four Days Battle was a naval battle of the Second Anglo–Dutch War. Fought from 1 June to 4 June 1666 in the Julian or Old Style calendar then used in England off the Flemish and English coast, it remains one of the longest naval engagements in history.In June 1665 the English had soundly...
, 1666 - 50 (1654) - Rearmed to 54, rearmed to 60, wrecked 1682
- 52 (c. 1653)
- 52 (c. 1654) - Renamed Dreadnought 1660, rearmed to 62, sank 1690
- 52 (c. 1654) - Renamed Revenge 1660, condemned 1678
- 52 (c. 1654) - Renamed Anne 1660, blew up 1673
- 52 (c. 1654) - Renamed Montague 1660
- 52 (c. 1654) - Renamed York 1660, wrecked 1703
- 50 (c. 1654) - Renamed Henrietta 1660, wrecked 1689
- 52 (c. 1653) - Wrecked 1682
- 50 (c. 1654) - Renamed Resolution 1660, burnt at the St. James' Day Battle, 1666
- 48 (c. 1653) - Captured by the Netherlands at the Four Days Battle
- Later third rate frigates
- 52 (c. 1659)
- 1649 programme group, fourth rate frigates
- 34 (1650) - Blew up 1689
- 34 (1650) - Renamed Bonaventure 1660
- 1650 programme group, fourth rate frigates
- 34 (1650) - Wrecked 1698
- 34 (1650)
- 34 (1650)
- 34 (1650)
- 34 (1650) - Burnt 1656
- 34 (1650) - Wrecked 1689
- 1651 programme group, fourth rate frigates
- 34 (1651) - Rearmed to 46, wrecked 1657
- 34 (1651) - Wrecked 1671
- 38/40 (1653) - Rearmed to 44
- Ruby class (part of 1651 programme)
- 40 (1651) - Captured by France at the Battle at The Lizard, 1707
- 40 (1652) - Captured by France 1693
- 1652 programme group, fourth rate frigates
- 40 (1652) - Renamed Kent 1660, wrecked 1672
- 38/40 (1652) - Rearmed to 46, blew up 1653
- 40 (1653) - Burnt to avoid capture 1692
- 38 (1653) - Rearmed to 46
- 1653 programme group, fourth rate frigates
- 38/40 (1653) - Renamed Swallow 1660, wrecked 1692
- 40 (1653) - Renamed Antelope 1660, sold 1693
- 38/40 (1654) - Renamed Bredah 1660, wrecked 1666
- 38/40 (1654) - Captured by France 1691
- 40/48 (1654) - Renamed Mary Rose 1660, - Captured by France 1691
- 40 (1654) - Renamed Crown 1660, rearmed to 48
- 40 (1654) - Rearmed to 48
- Large type (built as 44-gun, later raised in stages to 54 guns)
- 44 (1653) - Wrecked 1703
- 44 (1653) - BU 1680
- 44 (1654) - Renamed Happy Return 1660, captured by France 1691
- 44 (1659) - Scuttled 1699
- 44 (1660) - BU 1680
Major rebuilds
100 (1660) - Rebuilt 1685 60 (1654) – Captured by the Dutch 1667 48 (c. 1658) – re-armed at 60 by 1677. Sold 1698Captures of the First Anglo-Dutch War
The following list covers only the major vessels, all taken from the Dutch and added to the Commonwealth Navy as fourth rates; several dozen further small vessels were also captured from the Dutch during this war, and added to the Protectorate Navy, usually as fifth rate or sixth rate vessels. 36 (ex-Dutch, captured 1652) - captured by Dutch privateers 1654. 36 (ex-Dutch Hasewind, captured 1652) - hulked 1656 and sold 1660. 38 (ex-Dutch Prinses Royaal Maria, captured 1652) - wrecked 1658. 30 (ex-Dutch Dolfijn, captured 1652) - sold 1657. 38 (ex-Dutch Sophia, captured 1652) - sold 1667. 36 (ex-Dutch Ooievaar, captured 1652) - Hulked 1653 and sold 1663. 44 (ex-Dutch, captured 1652) - Hulked 1653 and broken up 1672. 36 (ex-Dutch, captured 1652) - Sold 1656. 36 (ex-Dutch, captured 1652) - Expended as fireship 1673. 32 (ex-Dutch, captured 1652) - burnt by fireship 1653. 36 (ex-Dutch Beer, captured 1652) - given to Ordnance Board 1666. 32 (ex-Dutch, captured 1652) - Sold 1657. 32 (ex-Dutch Samsun, captured 1652) - Sold 1658. 36 (ex-Dutch Fortun, captured 1652) - Sold 1658. 38 (ex-Dutch Zwarte Raaf, captured 1653) - Sold 1654./Estridge (ex-Dutch Vogelstruys, captured 1653) - hulked 1653, and sunk as a breakwater 1679. 36 (ex-Dutch Vergulde Haan, captured 1653) - Sold 1656. 44 (ex-Dutch Groote Liefde, captured 1653) - recaptured by Netherlands 1665. 38 (ex-Dutch Gecroonde Liefde, captured 1653) - Sold 1656. 36 (ex-Dutch Elias, captured 1653) - Wrecked 1664. 38 (ex-Dutch Westergo, captured 1653) - foundered 1664. 38 (ex-Dutch Sint Mattheus, captured 1653) - Burnt by the Dutch 1667. 34 (ex-Dutch Halve Maan, captured 1653) - sold 1660. 32 (ex-Dutch Rozeboom, captured 1653) - hulked 1664 and sold 1668. 44 (ex-Dutch East Indiaman Roos van Amsterdam, captured 1654) - Sold 1660.Captures from the Royalists
30 (ex-Royalist Charles, captured 1649, ex-merchantman Guinea Frigate) - Sold 1667. 30 (ex-Royalist Crowned Lion, captured 1650) - Sold 1658. 32 (ex-Royalist Saint Michael, captured 1651, ex-merchantman Archangel San Miguel) - Sold 1667 42 (ex-Royalist Revenge of Whitehall, captured 1652, ex-merchantman Marmaduke) - sunk as a blockship 1667.Captures from the Portuguese
44 (ex-Portuguese, probably the Nossa Senhora da Natividade) - Captured October 1650, captured in turn by the Netherlands 1666.- A second Portuguese ship, the São Pedro de Lisboa, was also captured in October 1650, but was not added to the English Commonwealth Navy.
Captures from the French
38 (ex-French Jules) - captured 1650, renamed Old Success 1660 and sold 1662 36 (ex-French Croissant) - captured 1652 and sold 1656. 36 (ex-French Don de Dieu) - captured 1652 and expended as a fireship 1666. 36 (ex-French Fortunee) - captured 1652 and sold 1654.Other ships
28 30 (ex-merchantman) - Sold 1667For ships-of-the-line of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, successor to the Protectorate Navy after 1660, see List of ships of the line of the Royal Navy
List of smaller English warships of the English Civil War, the Commonwealth and Protectorate (1642-1660)
In principle, vessels with an established complement of fewer than 150 were classed (from late 1653) as fifth rate (with between 80 and 139 men), sixth rate (with between 50 and 79 men), or as unrated (with fewer than 50 men). However there were numerous exceptions, and a large number of vessels changed categories during their service lives.(This list has been completed for purpose-built craft, but numerous captured and purchased vessels need to be added)
- Purchased vessels of the 1640s.
- Cygnet 18, purchased 1643, sold 1654.
- Hector 22, purchased 1644, sold 1656.
- Captured vessels of the 1640s.
- Fellowship 28, captured from Royalists 1643, sold 1662.
- Warwick 22, captured from Royalists 1643, sold 1660.
- Globe 24, captured from Royalists 1644, sold 1648.
- Swann 12, captured from Royalists 1645, wrecked 1653.
- Satisfaction 20, purchased 1646, wrecked 1662.
- Fifth rates, 1651 programme
- Pearl 22, built 1651, sunk as a breakwater 1697.
- Mermaid 22, built 1651, rebuilt 1689.
- Primrose 22, built 1651, wrecked 1656.
- Nightingale 22, built 1651, wrecked 1674.
- Sixth rates, 1652 programme
- Drake 14, built 1652, sold 1691.
- Merlin 14, built 1652, captured by the Dutch 1665.
- Martin 14, built 1652, sold 1667.
- Fifth rates, 1653 programme
- Colchester 22, built 1654, sunk 1667.
- Islip 22, built 1654, wrecked 1655.
- Fagons 22, built 1654, renamed Milford 1660, burnt 1673.
- Selby 22, built 1654, renamed Eagle 1660, sunk as a breakwater 1694.
- Basing 22, built 1654, renamed Guernsey 1660, taken to pieces 1693.
- Grantham 22, built 1654, renamed Garland 1660, sold 1698.
- Fifth rates, 1654 programme
- Norwich 22, built 1655, wrecked 1682.
- Pembroke 22, built 1655, foundered 1667 after collision.
- Dartmouth 22, built 1655, wrecked 1690.
- Cheriton 22, built 1656, renamed Speedwell 1660, wrecked 1676.
- Wakefield 22, built 1656, renamed Richmond 1660, sold 1698.
- Oxford 22, built 1656, destroyed in explosion 1669.
- Fifth rates, 1656 programme
- Forrester 22, built 1657, destroyed in explosion 1672.
- Bradford 24, built 1658, renamed Success 1660, wrecked 1680.
- Sixth rates and unrated vessels, 1657 programme
(note these six were ketch-rigged, three being classed as sixth rates and three being unrated)
-
- Cygnet 4, built 1657.
- Lily 4, built 1657.
- Hart 4, built 1657.
- Swallow 4, built 1657.
- Parrot 4, built 1657.
- Rose 4, built 1657.