British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Kingfisher' (1676)

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Kingfisher	140
Nominal Guns	46	B028
Nationality	Kingdom of England
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	1674	B028
Launched	1.1676	BWAS-1603
First Commissioned	11.4.1676	B028
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1603
Shipyard	Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich	B065
Constructor	Phineus Pett (1628-1678)	B065
Category	Fourth Rate	B028
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	B028
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	B028
Broken Up to Rebuild	1698	BWAS-1603
Becomes	British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Kingfisher' (1699) (48)

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB065
Length of Keel110' 0"Imperial Feet33.528
Breadth33' 8"Imperial Feet10.1261
Depth in Hold13' 0"Imperial Feet3.9624
Burthen663Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB028
Length of Gundeck136' 0"Imperial Feet41.4528
Breadth34' 0"Imperial Feet10.3632
Burthen664Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Gundeck136' 0"Imperial Feet41.4528
Length of Keel110' 0"Imperial Feet33.528
Breadth33' 8"Imperial Feet10.1261
Depth in Hold13' 0"Imperial Feet3.9624
Draught Aft13' 0"Imperial Feet3.9624
Burthen663 ¹⁷⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

1675Broadside Weight = 266 Imperial Pound ( 120.631 kg)B028
Lower Gun Deck22 British Culverin
Upper Gun Deck20 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 4-Pounder

1694Broadside Weight = 189 Imperial Pound ( 85.7115 kg)B065
Lower Gun Deck20 British 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck20 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck6 British 3-Pounder

1696Broadside Weight = 174 Imperial Pound ( 78.909 kg)BWAS-1603
Gun Deck20 British 12-Pounder
Gun Deck16 British 6-Pounder
Gun Deck4 British 3-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
4.1676220 BWAS-1603

10 Commanding Officers

DatesRankNameSource
11.4.1676 - 2.5.1676Captain John KirkeBWAS-16039.4.1677 - 1.9.1679Captain David Trotter (d.1683)BWAS-160323.10.1679 - 24.5.1681Captain Morgan Kempthorne (1655-1681)BWAS-160323.5.1681 - 9.8.1681Lieutenant Ralph Wrenn (d.1692)BWAS-160310.8.1681 - 28.3.1683Captain Francis Wheler (d.1693/94)BWAS-16031685 - 1687Captain Thomas HamiltonB0511689 - 30.3.1689Captain Thomas AllanBWAS-16034.6.1689 - 24.3.1689/90Captain John EveryBWAS-160327.5.1690 - 14.3.1692/93Captain John Johnson (d.1703)BWAS-160315.3.1692/93 - 7.10.1698Captain Jasper Hicks (d.1714)BWAS-1603

7 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
bef.21.5.1677 - aft.21.5.1677Lieutenant John Crofts ADM 8/1/84ADM84.11.1679 - 23.5.1681Lieutenant Ralph Wrenn (d.1692)W0141691 - 23.1.1690/91First Lieutenant Humphrey ParkerADM 1/52531695 - 27.1.1695/96Second Lieutenant Edward TolesonADM 1/52561696 - 7.10.1698First Lieutenant Gustavus Lang ADM 106/489/122ADM 10628.1.1695/96 - 9.4.1696Second Lieutenant Charles Christian ADM 6/3/122ADM 6/310.4.1696 - 7.10.1698Second Lieutenant Thomas Langrish ADM 6/3/144ADM 6/3

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRatingNameSource
1691 - 2.3.1690/91Carpenter Samuel Ward ADM 1/5253/135ADM 1/5253

3 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
6.2.1687/88 - 23.3.1688/89Midshipman Archibald Hamilton (d.c.1739) ADM 107/1/7ADM 107/19.1.1695/96 - 7.10.1698Volunteer-per-order Benjamin Redston ADM 6/3/115ADM 6/317.1.1695/96 - 7.10.1698Volunteer-per-order Christopher Harris (d.1722) ADM 6/3/117ADM 6/3

3 Crewmen

DatesRatingNameSource
1681Unknown Rupert Kempthorne (d.1691)ref:6495.5.1686 - 7.8.1686Able Seaman Charles Moody (c.1659-?) ADM 107/1/17ADM 107/124.3.1686/87 - 6.2.1687/88Volunteer Archibald Hamilton (d.c.1739) ADM 107/1/7ADM 107/1

Service History

DateEventSource
1677Commissioned for Home WatersBWAS-1603
1678In the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
22.5.1681In action against seven Algerines off SardiniaBWAS-1603
1685Refitted and had a forecastle addedBWAS-1603
6.1685In company with Falcon took the Scottish Effenying Castle BWAS-1603
1686Sailed to New EnglandBWAS-1603
1690Fishery guard ship off the ForelandBWAS-1603
1695Off IrelandBWAS-1603
1696Sailed to the East IndiesBWAS-1603
4.3.1695/96

Report from Captain Jaspar Hickes, Lieutenant Gustavus Long, Charles Christian, Basto.Neilder, master, John Riddle, gunner, Francis Jackson, coxswain and Thomas Calvart, boatswain, on the Kingfisher's longboat being broken in two when being hoisted in while at anchor off Fairleigh.

ADM 106
1697Returned homeBWAS-1603
1698Paid off and then started rebuilding at WoolwichBWAS-1603

Notes on Ship

Unique design featuresBWAS-1603
This vessel was designed to masquerade as a merchantman in the Mediterranean. She had false bulkheads on her upper deck together with various other means of disguising her appearance. She was completed without a forecastle, the latter being added in 1685

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