British Second Rate great ship 'Swiftsure' (1621)

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Swiftsure	55
Nominal Guns	46	B028
Nationality	Kingdom of England
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	2.1621	BWAS-1603
Launched	1621	B028
How acquired	Purpose built	B028
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	B028
Constructor	William Burrell (c.1570-1630)	B028
Category	Second Rate	B028
Ship Type	Great Ship	B028
Broken Up to Rebuild	1654	B028
Becomes	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Swiftsure' (1653) (56)

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB065
Length of Keel106' 0"Imperial Feet32.3088
Breadth35' 10"Imperial Feet10.668
Depth in Hold16' 9"Imperial Feet4.9149
Burthen876Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Keel106' 0"Imperial Feet32.3088
Breadth35' 10"Imperial Feet10.668
Depth in Hold16' 9"Imperial Feet4.9149
Burthen559Baker's Rule Tons
Burthen746Tons and Tonnage

Armament

1625Broadside Weight = 267 Imperial Pound ( 121.0846 kg)B065
Gun Deck2 British Demi-Cannon
Gun Deck2 British Cannon-Perrier
Gun Deck16 British Culverin
Gun Deck12 British Demi-Culverin
Gun Deck4 British Saker
Gun Deck2 British Falcon
Gun Deck4 British Fowler

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1625250Establishment = 150 Mariners, 30 Gunners and 70 SoldiersB065
3.1651/52260 BWAS-1603
1653400 BWAS-1603

9 Commanding Officers

DatesRankNameSource
1625CaptainSamuel ArgallBWAS-16031628CaptainJohn BurleyBWAS-16031635 - 1636CaptainSir John Pennington (d.1646)BWAS-16031637Vice-AdmiralSir John Pennington (d.1646)BWAS-16031640Rear-AdmiralJohn PoveyBWAS-16031643 - 1644CaptainRobert Moulton (d.1652)BWAS-16031647CaptainThomas DavisBWAS-16031650 - 1652CaptainJohn GilsonBWAS-16031650 - 1653CaptainAnthony HouldingBWAS-1603

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
10.1653 - 1654General at SeaGeorge Monk (d.1669/70)BWAS-1603

2 Warrant Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
27.3.1649 - 1649CookThomas FaithfulSPD-16511652 - 7.1652GunnerJohn FiggSPD-1651-2

Service History

DateEventSource
1623Voyage to SpainBWAS-1603
1625Flagship of the Vice-Admirals squadron on the expedition to CadizTRN2
1625Sailed for CadizBWAS-1603
1625Attack on Cadiz
1628At La RochelleBWAS-1603
1632Refitted as a 42 gun Second Rate
1635In the ChannelBWAS-1603
11.1635Took the Privateer Name Unknown (6)
1643In the ChannelBWAS-1603
1647At PortsmouthBWAS-1603
1650On the West coastBWAS-1603
30.11.1650Sailed from Spithead as part of a squadron under Vice-Admiral William Penn consisting in addition of Centurion (34) , Foresight (34) , Pelican (34) and Guinea (30)
1.1651The squadron was joined by the Fairfax (52) and some "frigates"
29.3.1651The squadron passed the straits into the MediterraneanTRN2
25.7.1651Arrived in MaltaTRN2
9.1651The squadron was in the StraitsTRN2
10.1651Near GibraltarTRN2
1652Refitted as a 46 gun Second Rate
30.3.1652Arrived in FalmouthTRN2
1653Refitted as a 64 gun Second Rate

Fleets
Dates	Fleet	Fleet Commander	Source
1650-1650	Summer Guard of 1650
29.9.1654-8.1657	Fleet for the Mediterranean	Robert Blake (1598-1657)

Sources

IDDescriptionAuthorType

B028J. J. ColledgeBook

BWAS-1603Rif WinfieldBook

B065Brian LaveryBook

SPD-1651Mary Anne Everett Green (editor)Book

SPD-1651-2Mary Anne Everett Green (editor)Book

TRN2William Laid ClowesDigital Book

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