British Second Rate galleon 'Rainbow' (1586)

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El Diligente (20) 1740-1755
Spanish 20 Gun
Privateer Packet
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Tomas VarelaSpanish
Naval Sailor
Privateer
Service 1749-1750
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Sir William Legge George Hoste (2^nd Baronet Hoste, of the Navy)British
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Service 1830-1866
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Henry Negus BurroughesBritish
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Service 1845
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Thomas Edward HosteBritish
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Service 1810-1828
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Sir William Hoste (1^st Baronet Hoste, of the Navy)British
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Service 1798-1824
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Veteran (64) 1787-1816
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Update
Thomas ClarkBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Added
Charles InglisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1792
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Charles InglisBritish
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Service 1790-1814
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Recent Comments

Ganges (74) 1782-1816
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1782)
Henry WickhamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1685-1693
Thomas CamelfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1797-1799
John Clarke SearleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1811
Gunboat No. 7 (14) 1797-1802
British 14 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
1797 Renamed "Sparkler"
(1797)
Swinger (12) 1794-1802
British 12 Gun
Unrated Gun-brig
(1794)
Gunboat No. 23 (12) 1797-1802
British 12 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
1797 Renamed "Furious"
(1797)
Thomas HopperBritish
Marine
Service 1794-1802
Robert WinthropBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1807
Sir John LawfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1832
See more...

Rainbow
Nominal Guns	26	B028
Nationality	Kingdom of England
Operator	Royal Navy
Launched	1586	B028
How acquired	Purpose built	B028
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	B028
Constructor	Peter PettBritish Ship Builder Service 1592-1652	BWAS-1603
Category	Second Rate	B028
Ship Type	Galleon	B028
Broken Up to Rebuild	1617	BWAS-1603
Becomes	British Second Rate great ship 'Rainbow' (1617) (64) 1617-1680 British 64 Gun 2nd Rate Great Ship

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Keel100' 0"Imperial Feet30.48
Breadth32' 0"Imperial Feet9.7536
Depth in Hold12' 0"Imperial Feet3.6576
Burthen480Tons and Tonnage
Burthen384Baker's Rule Tons

Armament

Broadside Weight = 238.25 Imperial Pound ( 108.0464 kg)BWAS-1603
Gun Deck6 British Demi-Cannon
Gun Deck12 British Culverin
Gun Deck7 British Demi-Culverin
Gun Deck1 British Saker

1588Broadside Weight = 296.5 Imperial Pound ( 134.4628 kg)TRN1
Gun Deck8 British Demi-Cannon
Gun Deck10 British Culverin
Gun Deck14 British Demi-Culverin
Gun Deck2 British Saker
Gun Deck20 British Light Guns

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1588250150 mariners, 24 gunners and 76 soldierTRN1
1603250 BWAS-1603

17 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1587CaptainBWAS-16031.1.1587/88 - 13.5.1588CaptainBWAS-160314.5.1588 - 25.5.1588CaptainNRS02214.5.1588 - 25.8.1588CaptainBWAS-160326.8.1588 - 1590CaptainBWAS-16031590CaptainBWAS-16031594CaptainBWAS-16031596 - 1597CaptainBWAS-16031598 - 7.1599CaptainBWAS-16037.1599 - 1.1600CaptainBWAS-16031.1600 - 8.1600CaptainBWAS-16038.1600 - 2.1601CaptainBWAS-16032.1601 - 1601CaptainBWAS-16031.1602 - 1603CaptainBWAS-16031603CaptainBWAS-16031607 - 1608CaptainBWAS-16031610 - 1612CaptainBWAS-1603

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1589AdmiralNRS157

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1596Masterref:2008

Service History

DateEventSource
1587Expedition to CadizBWAS-1603
5.1588The Spanish Armada
5.1588The Spanish Armada
7.1588

Spanish Armada North Foreland

ref:2008
1596Expedition to CadizBWAS-1603
12.4.1596

Squadron under the Lord High Admiral Dover

ref:2008
21.6.1596Attack on Cadiz Harbour
1597Expedition to the AzoresBWAS-1603
1598Channel guardBWAS-1603
1599In the ChannelBWAS-1603
1600In the ChannelBWAS-1603
1601Partially rebuiltBWAS-1603
1603In the ChannelBWAS-1603

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Date posted	By	Page
Sunday 14th of June 2026 06:41	Rob Griffith	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Ganges' (1782) (74) 1782-1816 British 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:20	Jon Miller	Henry WickhamBritish Naval Sailor Service 1685-1693
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:14	Jon Miller	Thomas CamelfordBritish Naval Sailor Service 1797-1799
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:12	Jon Miller	John Clarke SearleBritish Naval Sailor Service 1780-1811
Sunday 14th of June 2026 04:09	Jon Miller	British gunboat 'Gunboat No. 7' (1797) (14) 1797-1802 British 14 Gun Unrated Gunboat 1797 Renamed "Sparkler"

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