British Third Rate ship of the line 'Swiftsure' (1653)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Swiftsure	7036
Nominal Guns	56	B028
Nationality	Commonwealth of England
Operator	State Navy
Previously	British Second Rate great ship 'Swiftsure' (1621) (46)
Ordered	5.2.1651/52	BWAS-1603
Acquired	28.9.1653	BWAS-1603
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	B028
Designed by	Christopher Pett (1620-1667/68)	B028
Constructor	Christopher Pett (1620-1667/68)	B028
Category	Third Rate	B028
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	B028
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	B028
Captured	1.6.1666	BWAS-1603
Becomes	Dutch Second Rate ship of the line 'Oudshoorn' (1666) (70)

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB065
Length of Keel118' 0"Imperial Feet35.9664
Breadth37' 10"Imperial Feet11.2776
Depth in Hold16' 0"Imperial Feet4.8768
Burthen898Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Keel118' 0"Imperial Feet35.9664
Breadth37' 10"Imperial Feet11.2776
Depth in Hold16' 0"Imperial Feet4.8768
Draught Aft17' 6"Imperial Feet5.2034
Burthen898 ³⁸⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

1666Broadside Weight = 676 Imperial Pound ( 306.566 kg)BWAS-1603
Gun Deck22 British Demi-Cannon
Gun Deck28 British Culverin
Gun Deck16 British Demi-Culverin

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
3.9.1653300 BWAS-1603
17.12.1653400 BWAS-1603
25.12.1654380At the start of the West Indies expedition, including 30 soldiersTRN2
1660300 BWAS-1603
1666380Establishment for war abroadBWAS-1603
1666300Establishment for war at homeBWAS-1603
1666260Establishment for peaceBWAS-1603

11 Commanding Officers

DatesRankNameSource
8.1653 - 1654CaptainWilliam Penn (d.1670)BWAS-16031654 - 1655CaptainJonas PooleBWAS-16038.1654 - 12.1654CaptainAnthony HouldingBWAS-16031656 - 1658CaptainJohn BourneBWAS-16031658 - 1659Vice-AdmiralWilliam Goodson (1610-1680)BWAS-16031660Rear-AdmiralSir Richard Stayner (d.1662)BWAS-16031.4.1661 - 15.1.1662/63Vice-AdmiralSir John Lawson (1610-1665)B05112.11.1664 - 9.2.1664/65Vice-Admiral of the RedSir John Lawson (1610-1665)BWAS-160310.2.1664/65 - 28.2.1664/65Vice-Admiral of the WhiteThomas Teddeman (1620-1668)BWAS-16031.3.1664/65 - 1666Rear-Admiral of the RedSir William Berkeley (1639-1666)BWAS-16031666 - 1.6.1666Vice-Admiral of the WhiteSir William Berkeley (1639-1666)BWAS-1603

4 Flag Officers

DatesRankNameSource
8.1653 - 1654General at SeaGeorge Monk (d.1669/70)BWAS-16031654 - 1655General at SeaRobert Blake (1598-1657)BWAS-16031655General at SeaWilliam Penn (d.1670)BWAS-160310.1656 - 12.1656General at SeaRobert Blake (1598-1657)BWAS-1603

4 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
4.4.1661 - 4.1662LieutenantWilliam Berkeley (1639-1666)B0511662 - 1663LieutenantJohn Chicheley (1641-1690/91)B0511664 - 1665LieutenantJohn Waterworth (d.1672)B0511665LieutenantThomas BridgemanW014

Service History

DateEventSource
30.8.1652The Council of State wrote to the Commissioners of the Navy desiring then to give a speedy account to the Council why the ships Swiftsure and new frigate at Woolwich are in no better forwardnessTRN2
2.2.1652/53The Admiralty Commitee order that the Swiftsure be ready to sail on the 1st AprilTRN2
18.2.1652/53The Admiralty Commitee order that the Swiftsure be ready to sail on the 1st May with 6 months provisionsTRN2
1.4.1653[Richard Deane] and [George Monck] wrote to the Admiralty Commitee that the Swiftsure will not be ready this two months and that Captain Strong may stay for the SwiftsureTRN2
17.12.1653Refitted as a 64 gun Third Rate
25.12.1654Flagship of [General at Sea] [William Penn|Sir William Penn] in the expedition to the West IndiesB051
4.5.1655The fleet left HispaniolaTRN2
10.5.1655Reached Jamaica, which surrendered on the 17thTRN2
25.5.1655The Swiftsure's lower deck guns were placed on board the Discovery, which blew up later in the day. Most of the guns were recoveredTRN2
25.6.1655Sailed for EnglandTRN2
31.8.1655Anchored at SpitheadTRN2
20.4.1657Battle of Santa Cruz
1659Part of Admiral [Edward Monague|Edward Monague's] fleet in the SoundNWB
1660Refitted as a 60 gun Second Rate
3.6.1665Battle of Lowestoft
1666Refitted as a 66 gun Second Rate
1.6.1666Four Days Battle
11.6.1666Surrounded and captured by the Dutch, Vice-Admiral Sir William Berkeley was killed in the actionTRN2

Fleets
Dates	Fleet	Fleet Commander	Source
25.12.1654-31.8.1655	Fleet for the West Indies	William Penn (d.1670)
1659-1659	British Baltic Fleet 1659	Edward Montagu (d.1672)

Sources

IDDescriptionAuthorType

B028J. J. ColledgeBook

BWAS-1603Rif WinfieldBook

B065Brian LaveryBook

TRN2William Laid ClowesDigital Book

B051John CharnockDigital Book

W014James C BenderWeb Site

NWBR C AndersonBook

Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Tuesday 15th of October 2019 11:08	Madelaine Kirke	British sloop 'Beagle' (1820) (10)
Monday 14th of October 2019 22:23	Glenys Horton	James Peacock (d.1653)
Monday 14th of October 2019 16:49	AvM	British Merchant east indiaman 'Surat Castle' (1806)
Sunday 13th of October 2019 11:43	Tim Oakley	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Penelope' (1798) (36)
Friday 11th of October 2019 20:50	David Pleguezuelo	Operations against Cartagena

GDPR Statement