From a number of sources online, a Swiftsure was built in Deptford in 1621 and rebuilt in 1654. Three years later, Swiftsure was involved in the attack on Tenerife in 1657, and may have been the same ship lost to the Dutch in the 4-days battle of the third Dutch War in 1666.
DUTCH WARS - REFITTING THE 'SWIFTSURE': 1653 (9 Sept.) Letter from Thomas Scott, master attendant at Deptford dockyard, to the Commissioners for the Navy concerning the refitting of war-damaged frigates & prizes. No address panel; light foxing & staining etc. A scarce Commonwealth period naval letter.
The loss of the Swiftsure: The Swiftsure was captured by the Dutch in June 1666 in the course of four days heavy fighting during the second Anglo- Dutch War. It was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Berkeley who was killed in the action along with 5,000 men while 3,000 were taken prisoner. The English squadrons were commanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine and Albemarle. The Dutch were lead by de Ruyter, Tromp and de Vries. In spite of their heavy losses the English were considered bolder and more disciplined than the Dutch. Later de Ruyter wrote "Nothing equals the beautiful order of the English at sea. Never was a line drawn straighter than that formed by their ships;thus they bring all their fire to bear upon those who draw near them"
Sources: Prince Rupert Admiral and General-at-Sea. Frank kitson,Constable 1998
Some further details of the Swiftsure (dimensions, complement, etc.) can be found at: http://pc-78-120.udac.se:8001/WWW… which was actually transcribed from "Pepys' Miscellanies." Swiftsure is the ninth on the list.
And the use of the the name Swiftsure by the Royal Navy has continued. The most recent examples are a cruiser (WW II) and the most current Swiftsure, a nuclear submarine, which was laid up at Rosyth in 1992.
HMS Swiftsure 44-6 guns; built at Deptford 1621; rebuilt 1654 at Woolwich by Peter Pett; captured 4 June 1666 by the Dutch, who renamed her Oudshoom, reconfigured her to disguise her. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_…
Bryan on 1 Apr 2013 • Link • Flag These diagrams are from A Ship of War, Cyclopaedia, 1728, Even though they were drawn nearly 70 years later I think they give a good idea of the ships Sam is sailing in.
The top diagram represents a third rate ship of the line, such as the Swiftsure (42 guns) in which Sam is currently sailing.
The Naseby (80 guns) is a first rate ship of the line similar to the lower diagram. Notice that the State Room (S) and the Ward Room (T) both have cannons in them. From the legend: "The State Room out of which the Bed Chamber and other Con...(illegible) for the Commander in Chief"; "The Ward Room. Allotted for Voluntier(?) and Land Officers".
Spoiler
There is also The Cuddy (R) just below the Poop Deck (P) "which is commonly divided for the Masters and Secretaries Officers". Would this be where our favorite secretary finds lodging?
6 Annotations
First Reading
Steve • Link
From a number of sources online, a Swiftsure was built in Deptford in 1621 and rebuilt in 1654. Three years later, Swiftsure was involved in the attack on Tenerife in 1657, and may have been the same ship lost to the Dutch in the 4-days battle of the third Dutch War in 1666.
Pauline • Link
There have been ships named Swiftsure in the British navy since 1573.
This from cavendish-auctions.com:
DUTCH WARS - REFITTING THE 'SWIFTSURE': 1653 (9 Sept.) Letter from Thomas Scott, master attendant at Deptford dockyard, to the Commissioners for the Navy concerning the refitting of war-damaged frigates & prizes. No address panel; light foxing & staining etc. A scarce Commonwealth period naval letter.
helena murphy • Link
The loss of the Swiftsure: The Swiftsure was captured by the Dutch in June 1666 in the course of four days heavy fighting during the second Anglo-
Dutch War. It was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Berkeley who was killed in the action along with 5,000 men while 3,000 were taken prisoner. The English squadrons were commanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine and Albemarle. The Dutch were lead by de Ruyter, Tromp and de Vries. In spite of their heavy losses the English were considered bolder and more disciplined than the Dutch. Later de Ruyter wrote "Nothing equals the beautiful order of the English at sea. Never was a line drawn straighter than that formed by their ships;thus they bring all their fire to bear upon those who draw near them"
Sources: Prince Rupert Admiral and General-at-Sea. Frank kitson,Constable 1998
Alan Bedford • Link
Some further details of the Swiftsure (dimensions, complement, etc.) can be found at: http://pc-78-120.udac.se:8001/WWW…
which was actually transcribed from "Pepys' Miscellanies." Swiftsure is the ninth on the list.
And the use of the the name Swiftsure by the Royal Navy has continued. The most recent examples are a cruiser (WW II) and the most current Swiftsure, a nuclear submarine, which was laid up at Rosyth in 1992.
Terry Foreman • Link
HMS Swiftsure
44-6 guns; built at Deptford 1621; rebuilt 1654 at Woolwich by Peter Pett; captured 4 June 1666 by the Dutch, who renamed her Oudshoom, reconfigured her to disguise her. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_…
Third Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
Bryan on 1 Apr 2013 • Link • Flag
These diagrams are from A Ship of War, Cyclopaedia, 1728, Even though they were drawn nearly 70 years later I think they give a good idea of the ships Sam is sailing in.
The top diagram represents a third rate ship of the line, such as the Swiftsure (42 guns) in which Sam is currently sailing.
The Naseby (80 guns) is a first rate ship of the line similar to the lower diagram. Notice that the State Room (S) and the Ward Room (T) both have cannons in them. From the legend: "The State Room out of which the Bed Chamber and other Con...(illegible) for the Commander in Chief"; "The Ward Room. Allotted for Voluntier(?) and Land Officers".
Spoiler
There is also The Cuddy (R) just below the Poop Deck (P) "which is commonly divided for the Masters and Secretaries Officers". Would this be where our favorite secretary finds lodging?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wiki…