Class overview
Name1637 Group
Builders
  • Matthew Graves, Bermondsey
  • Mr Trackmore, St Savior's Dock, Bermondsey
OperatorsRoyal Navy Ensign English Navy Royal

Commonwealth Navy Ensign Commonwealth Of England

Royal Navy Ensign Kingdom of England
Preceded byCrane Group
Succeeded by1646 Programme Group
Built1590
In service1637 - 1638
In commission1638 - 1668
Completed2
Lost1
Retired1
General characteristics
TypeSmall Ship
Tons burthen304.2/405.5 tons bm
Length90 ft 0 in (27.4 m) keel
Beam26 ft 0 in (7.9 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 0 in (4.0 m)
Sail planship-rigged
Complement120 - 1652
Armament30 guns

The 1637 Group of two 300 ton 'pinnances' to carry fourteen pieces of ordnance and sixteen banks of oars were ordered on 12 December 1636. These vessels would carry thirty pieces of ordnance with ten pairs of gun ports on the lower deck with two pair forward and four pairs aft on the upper deck. The waist would be unprotected until two more pairs of gun ports were added later. Their measurements would compare favourably to the 'frigate' type vessels built a decade later. Their beam to length ratio of 3.46 to 1 would make a more true frigate than the Constant Warwick.[1]

Design and specifications

The ships were built in Bermondsey under contract. Only order dates and launch dates are available for each ship. The specification dimensions are keel for tonnage 90 feet 0 inches (27.4 metres) with a breadth of 26 feet 0 inches (7.9 metres) and depth of hold of 13 feet 0 inches (4.0 metres). The builder's measure tonnage was 304.2 and 405.5 tons. When the vessels were remeasured their dimensions were keel 90 feet 1 inch (27.5 metres) with a beam of 27 feet 4 inches (8.3 metres) and depth of hold of 11 feet 0 inches (3.4 metres). Their builder's measure was 357+93⁄94 tons.[2]

The gun armaments will be specified on within the ship articles as they varied between the vessels. As built they carried thirty guns of culverins,[3][Note 1] demi-culverins,[4][Note 2] and sakers.[5][Note 3] The initial manning of the ships was120 personnel in 1652, increasing to 140 souls by 1653.[6]

Ships of the 1637 Group

NameBuilderLaunch dateRemarks
ExpeditionMatthew Graves, Bermondsey20 March 1637
  • Converted to a fireship June 1667 then sold October 1667
Providence Mr Trackmore, St Savior's Dock, Bermondsey21 March 1637
  • Wrecked Tangier 31 October 1668

Notes

  1. ↑ A culverin was a gun of 4,500 pounds with a 5.5 inch bore firing a 17.5 pound shot with an twelve pound powder charge.
  2. ↑ A demi-culverin was a gun of 3,400 pounds with a four inch bore firing a 9.5 pound shot with an eight pound powder charge.
  3. ↑ A sacar or saker was a gun of 1,400 pounds with a 3.5 inch bore firing a 5.5 pound shot with an 5.5 pound powder charge.

Citations

  1. ↑ Winfield
  2. ↑ Winfield
  3. ↑ Lavery, page 100
  4. ↑ Lavery, page 101
  5. ↑ Lavery, page 102
  6. ↑ Winfield

References

  • British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © Rif Winfield 2009, EPUB ISBN 978-1-78346-924-6, Chapter 4, The Fourth Rates - 'Small Ships', Vessels Acquired from 24 March 1603, 1637 Group
  • Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt-Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © the estate of J.J. Colledge, Ben Warlow and Steve Bush 2020, EPUB ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7
  • The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War 1600 - 1815, by Brian Lavery, published by US Naval Institute Press © Brian Lavery 1989, ISBN 978-0-87021-009-9, Part V Guns, Type of Guns
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