British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Nantwich' (1655)

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Recent Comments

Convertine (40) 1650-1666
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4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1650)
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British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1785)
Richard BowenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1793
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Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1862
Bedford (74) 1775-1817
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
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Service 1744-1795
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Nantwich ➡ 1660 Bredah
Nominal Guns	40	B028
Nationality	Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland
Operator	State Navy
Ordered	1.10.1653	B028
Launched	13.3.1654/55	B028
First Commissioned	3.1654/55	B028
How acquired	Purpose built	B028
Shipyard	Bristol - England	B028
Constructor	Francis BayleyBritish Ship Builder	B028
Category	Fourth Rate	B028
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	B028
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	B028
Wrecked	15.8.1666	B028

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB022
Length of Keel100' 0"Imperial Feet30.48
Breadth31' 0"Imperial Feet9.4488
Depth in Hold12' 8"Imperial Feet3.7592
Burthen511 ¹⁶⁄₉₄Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Keel100' 0"Imperial Feet30.48
Breadth31' 0"Imperial Feet9.4488
Depth in Hold15 6"Imperial Feet0.0305
Depth in Hold12' 8"Imperial Feet3.7592
Burthen511 ¹⁶⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

1666Broadside Weight = 304.5 Imperial Pound ( 138.0909 kg)B022
Lower Gun Deck22 British Culverin
Upper Gun Deck20 British Demi-Culverin
Quarterdeck6 British Saker

1666Broadside Weight = 299 Imperial Pound ( 135.5966 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck22 British Culverin
Upper Gun Deck20 British Demi-Culverin
Quarterdeck4 British Saker

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1660140EstablishmentB022
1666180 BWAS-1603

7 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1655 - 1657CaptainBWAS-16031658 - 1660CaptainB0511.6.1661 - 3.9.1662Captain†B05121.5.1664 - 4.6.1665CaptainBWAS-160312.6.1665 - 2.8.1665Captain†BWAS-16031666CaptainB0517.8.1666 - 15.8.1666CaptainBWAS-1603

2 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
1661 - 1662LieutenantB0511664LieutenantB051

Service History

DateEventSource
1655Completed at Maldon - Essex at a cost of £2682.15.0dBWAS-1603
8.1655Joined Blake in the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
20.4.1657Battle of Santa Cruz
6.1660In the StraitsBWAS-1603
6.1660Renamed BredahBWAS-1603
1662At Tangier and LisbonBWAS-1603
3.6.1665Battle of Lowestoft
3.8.1665Battle of Vågen
1666Rerated as a 46 gunner
1.6.1666Four Days Battle
25.7.1666St James Day Battle
9.8.1666Holmes' Bonfire
15.8.1666Wrecked on the Dutch coastBWAS-1603
1677Rerated as a 48 gunner

Fleets
Dates	Fleet	Fleet Commander	Source
1659-1659	British Baltic Fleet 1659	Edward MontaguBritish Naval Sailor Service 1656-1672

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

B022Rif Winfield, Book

B028J. J. Colledge, Book

B051John Charnock, Digital Book

BWAS-1603Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jeffrey McQuinley on Monday 22nd of September 2025 15:25

The Nantwich was built as 28 gun ship (ref. B028 and 1846). This ship could not have been re-rated to 48 guns in 1677, 9 years after being wrecked, maybe this rating occurred in 1657 to 40 guns. As Nantwich this ship is listed as 40 guns at the battle of Santa Cruz in 1657, also as Breda 40 guns at the battles of Lowestoft and Vagen in 1665. The Breda carried 46 guns at battles of Four Days, St. James Day and Holmes Bonfire.

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