British Third Rate galleon 'Swiftsure' (1573)

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Swiftsure
Nominal Guns	41	NRS157
Nationality	Kingdom of England
Operator	Royal Navy
Launched	1573	NRS157
How acquired	Purpose built	NRS157
Shipyard	Deptford - London	NRS157
Constructor	Peter PettBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1550-1589	NRS157
Category	Third Rate	NRS157
Ship Type	Galleon
Broken Up to Rebuild	1592	NRS157
Becomes	British Third Rate galleon 'Swiftsure' (1592) (29) 1592-1607 British 29 Gun 3rd Rate Galleon

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB028
Burthen360Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNRS157
Burthen360Tons and Tonnage
Burthen288Tons BM

Armament

1573Broadside Weight = 163 Imperial Pound ( 73.9207 kg)B028
Gun Deck2 British Cannon of 7
Gun Deck5 British Culverin
Gun Deck12 British Demi-Culverin
Gun Deck8 British Saker

1588Broadside Weight = 170.5 Imperial Pound ( 77.32195 kg)TRN1
Gun Deck2 British Cannon of 7
Gun Deck5 British Culverin
Gun Deck12 British Demi-Culverin
Gun Deck8 British Saker
Gun Deck15 British Light Guns

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1573210 NRS157
1588180120 sailors, 20 gunners and 40 soldiersTRN1

3 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
19.1.1587/88 - 15.9.1588CaptainBWAS-16031589CaptainBWAS-16031590CaptainBWAS-1603

Service History

DateEventSource
5.1588The Spanish Armada
5.1588The Spanish Armada

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

B028J. J. Colledge, Book

BWAS-1603Rif Winfield, Book

NRS157C. S. Knighton, David Loades, Book

TRN1William Laird Clowes, Digital Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Cy on Monday 14th of October 2024 15:45

No, this ship was rebuilt in 1592, rebuilt and renamed Speedwell in 1607, and wrecked in 1624. Follow the incarnation links. Also this ship is 6 times the Burden/tonnage of the pilgrim's ship, which was only about 60 tons.

Posted by Roger Green on Monday 14th of October 2024 00:46

Is this the same ship that became the Speedwell of Pilgrim fame?

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Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:29	Jon Miller	French Privateer 'La Résolue' (1798) (18) 1798-1798 French 18 Gun Privateer Unknown
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:29	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Phaeton' (1782) (38) 1782-1828 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:27	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Seahorse' (1794) (38) 1794-1819 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:24	Jon Miller	Charles John Moore MansfieldBritish Naval Sailor Service 1772-1807
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:19	Jon Miller	Sir Robert Lawrie (6^th Baronet of Maxwelton)British Naval Sailor Service 1790-1847

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