Wikipedia

HMS Amity (1650)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Amity.

Amity was a 36-gun fourth rate vessel, formerly belonging to the Commonwealth of England. She was hired by Parliament in November 1649, and later purchased on 18 January 1650, thus renamed. She was commissioned into the Parliamentary Naval Force as Amity. During the First Anglo-Dutch War she partook in the Battle of Portland and the Battle of The Gabbard. Later, after the Restoration in May 1660, she was incorporated into the English Navy. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War she participated in the Battle of Lowestoft, the Four Days' Battle and the St James Day Fight. She was sold on 27 November 1667.[1]

History
Commonwealth Navy EnsignCommonwealth of England
NameAmity
Acquired18 January 1650
Commissioned1650
Honours and
awards
  • Portland 1653
  • Gabbard 1653
Royal Navy EnsignKingdom of England
NameAmity
AcquiredMay 1660
Honours and
awards
  • Lowestoft 1665
  • Four Days' Battle 1666
  • Orfordness 1666
FateSold 27 November 1667
General characteristics
Class and type38-gun fourth rate
Tons burthen375+30⁄94 bm
Length90 ft 0 in (27.4 m) keel for tonnage
Beam28 ft 0 in (8.5 m)
Draught15 ft 0 in (4.6 m)
Depth of hold12 ft 0 in (3.7 m)
Sail planship-rigged
Complement
  • 150 in 1653
  • 140/120/100 in 1660
Armament
  • 38/30 in 1666
  • 12 × culverins
  • 14 × demi-culverins
  • 12 × sakers

Amity was the first named vessel in the English or Royal Navy.[2]

Specifications edit

Her dimensions were 90 feet 0 inches (27.4 metres) keel for tonnage with a breadth of 28 feet 0 inches (8.5 metres) and a depth of hold of 12 feet 0 inches (3.7 metres). Her builder's measure tonnage was calculated as 375+30⁄94 tons. Her draught was 15 feet 0 inches (4.6 metres).[3]

Her gun armament in 1650 was 36 guns. In 1666 her armament was 38 (wartime)/30 (peacetime) and consisted of twelve culverins,[4][Note 1] fourteen demi-culverins,[5][Note 2] twelve sakers.[6][Note 3] Her manning was 150 personnel and rose to 140/120/100 personnel.[7]

Commissioned service edit

Service in the English Civil War and Commonwealth Navy edit

She was commissioned into the Parliamentary Navy in 1650 under the command of Captain John Coppin for Scottish Waters. In 1651, she was under Captain Michael Packe (later rear-admiral) with Ayscue in the West Indies. She was in action on 16 August 1652 during which Captain Michael Packe was mortally wounded. Later in 1653 she was under the command of Captain Henry Packe.[8]

First Anglo-Dutch War edit

During the First Anglo-Dutch War she partook in the Battle of Portland on 18 February 1653 as a member of Robert Blake's Fleet.[9] As a member of Blue Squadron, Rear Division she took part in the Battle of the Gabbard on 2–3 June 1653.[10] In February 1654 she took a 20-gun Dutch ship.[11]

She then sailed with Robert Blake's Fleet to the Mediterranean in 1654. She was at Tunis for the Battle of Porto Farina on 4 April 1655.[12] She remained with Robert Blake's Fleet until 1657.[13]

Service after the Restoration May 1660 edit

Captain John Stoakes was in command from 20 December 1660 to 26 December 1661. Captain John Parker took command on 23 May 1664 and held command until 9 June 1666.[14]

Second Anglo-Dutch War edit

She was at the Battle of Lowestoft as a member of Red Squadron, Rear Division on 3 June 1665.[15] She arrived with Prince Rupert's Squadron at the Four Days' Battle on 4 June 1666 as a member of the Rear Division. She suffered two killed and 2 wounded.[16] She was at the St James Day Battle as a member of Blue Squadron, Center Division on 25 July 1666.[17] On 28 July 1666 she was under Captain Stephen Pyend until 6 November 1667.[18]

Disposition edit

Amity was sold on 27 November 1667.[19]

Notes edit

  1. ^ The culverin was a gun of 4,500 pounds with a 5.5-inch bore firing a 17.5-pound shot with a twelve-pound powder charge
  2. ^ The 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. ^ The sacar or saker was a gun of 1,400 pounds with a 3.5-inch bore firing a 5.5-pound shot with a 5.5-pound powder charge

Citations edit

  1. ^ Winfield 7
  2. ^ Colledge
  3. ^ Winfield 7
  4. ^ Lavery, page 100
  5. ^ Lavery, page 101
  6. ^ Lavery, page 102
  7. ^ Winfield 7
  8. ^ Winfield 7
  9. ^ Winfield 1
  10. ^ Winfield 2
  11. ^ Winfield 7
  12. ^ Winfield 3
  13. ^ Winfield 7
  14. ^ Winfield 7
  15. ^ Winfield 4
  16. ^ Winfield 5
  17. ^ Winfield 6
  18. ^ Winfield 7
  19. ^ Winfield 7

References edit

  • 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:
  1. Fleet Actions, 1.5 Battle off Portland (the Three Days' Battle)
  2. Fleet Actions, 1.7 Battle of the Gabbard (North Foreland)
  3. Fleet Actions, 2.1 Battle of Porto Farina (Tunisia)
  4. Fleet Actions, 3.1 Battle of Lowestoft
  5. Fleet Actions, 3.3 Battle of the Galloper Sand ('the Four Days' Battle')
  6. Fleet Actions, 3.4 Battle of Orfordness (the St James Day Battle)
  7. Chapter 4 Fourth Rates - 'Small Ships', Vessels acquired from 25 March 1603, Purchased Vessel (1650), Amity
  • 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, Section A (Amity)
  • The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War 1800 – 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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