British 1689 Program Fireships

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1689 Program Fireships

Complement as fireshipsBWAS-1603
Crew of 45 with 8 x British 6-Pounders
General notesBWAS-1603
Essentially these vessels differed little from the smaller Fifth Rates with which they were classed. The use of a two-decker layout was ideal, as ports could be provided along the lower deck to create a fierce draught; these ports were fitted with lids hinged at the bottom (normal gunport lids were hinged at the top) so that they could not be closed by fire burning through the tackles that held the lid). Aft on the same deck was a large sallyport through which the final skeleton crew could escape into a boat after the fireship was set on its final task. On the deck above a lattice-work was constructed as a false platform on which combustibles could be stored, while large chimneys were fitted through the upper deck to increase the circulation of air.
NationalityGreat Britain
Nominal Guns28
Approved1689/12/06
Designer 
RateFifth Rate
TypeFireship
Designed Crew115
Ships in Class12
Design ArmamentBroadside Weight = 86.00 Imperial Pound ( 39.00 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck4 x British 9-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck20 x British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 x British 4-Pounder
Design Dimensions and Ship Information
 OrderedShipyardLaunchedOut of serviceFateGundeck LengthLength of KeelBreadthDepth in holdBurthen
As Designed     93' 0"77' 10"24' 8"9' 8"252
Dolphin (28) 1690-1709
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Chatham Dockyard - Chatham 29.3.169028.5.1709Broken Up to Rebuild93' 6"82' 0"24' 9 ½"9' 8"268 7⁄94
Speedwell (28) 1690-1701
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Rotherhithe - London - Surrey 3.4.169010.1701Broken Up to Rebuild94' 0"78' 6"24' 11"9' 8"259 53⁄94
Spy (28) 1690-1693
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Cuckolds Point - Rotherhithe 6.4.169012.1.1692/93Burnt91' 6"80' 0"25' 4 ½"9' 6 ½"253
Hopewell (28) 1690-1690
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
3.12.1689Shoreham - Sussex 15.4.16903.6.1690Burnt93' 3 ½"79' 4"24' 10 ¾"9' 8 ½"261 51⁄94
Fox (28) 1690-1692
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Shoreham - Sussex 16.4.16904.6.1692Expended as Fireship93' 4"79' 1"25' 1"9' 8"264 2⁄94
Hawk (28) 1690-1712
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Wapping - London 17.4.169012.1712Sunk as Breakwater94' 10 ½"86' 8"25' 0"9' 7"288 11⁄94
Roebuck (28) 1690-1701
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Wapping - London 17.4.169021.2.1700/1Foundered96' 0"84' 5"25' 6"9' 9 ¾"291 92⁄94
Griffin (28) 1690-1702
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Rotherhithe - London - Surrey 17.4.16901702Broken Up to Rebuild94' 9 ½"82' 4"24' 8 ½"9' 9 ½"267 34⁄94
Wolf (28) 1690-1692
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Deptford - London 18.4.16902.6.1692Expended as Fireship93' 1"81' 10"24' 11"9' 9"270 33⁄94
Hound (28) 1690-1692
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Limehouse - London 18.4.16902.6.1692Expended as Fireship93' 9"81' 8 ½"25' 0"9' 8"271 60⁄94
Vulture (28) 1690-1708
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Deptford - London 18.4.169010.12.1708Captured93' 0"82' 2"24' 10 ¼"9' 7 ½"270 30⁄94
Hunter (28) 1690-1710
British 28 Gun
5th Rate Fireship
6.12.1689Rotherhithe - London - Surrey 29.4.169020.9.1710Captured93' 6"84' 7"24' 10"9' 11"277 43⁄94
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