British Fifth Rate galley 'Merlin' (1652)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Update
John StylesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Update
Thomas ElkingtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Aurora (28) 1777-1814
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
Update
John Milligan SeppingsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Update
John SkinnerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1794
Added
Princess Royal (6) 1794-1794
British 6 Gun
Merchant Packet
Update
Edward BrowneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Polyphemus (64) 1782-1827
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Update
William ShippardBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Robert PassmoreBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1798
See more...

Recent Comments

La Résolue (18) 1798-1798
French 18 Gun
Privateer Unknown
(1798)
Phaeton (38) 1782-1828
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1782)
Seahorse (38) 1794-1819
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1794)
Charles John Moore MansfieldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1772-1807
Sir Robert Lawrie (6^th Baronet of Maxwelton)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1847
Sir Graham Eden HamondBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1836
John AllenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1846
Sir Thomas Bladen CapelBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1792-1847
Thomas ManbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1825
Thomas CamelfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1797-1799
See more...

Merlin
Nominal Guns	14	B028
Nationality	Commonwealth of England
Operator	State Navy
Acquired	1652	B028
Shipyard	Chatham Dockyard - Chatham	BWAS-1603
Constructor	John TaylorBritish Designer Ship Owner Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1627-1660	BWAS-1603
Category	Fifth Rate	B028
Ship Type	Galley
Captured	13.10.1665	B028
Becomes	Dutch Sixth Rate galley 'Galei van Dover' (1665) (22) 1665-1667 Dutch 22 Gun 6th Rate Galley

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Keel75' 0"Imperial Feet22.86
Breadth18' 0"Imperial Feet5.4864
Depth in Hold7 ' 8"Imperial Feet2.3368
Draught Aft9' 0"Imperial Feet2.7432
Burthen129' ²⁴⁄₉₄Tons BM

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1.165250 NRS013
166060 BWAS-1603
166535Establishment for peaceBWAS-1603
166580Establishment for war abroadBWAS-1603
166560Establishment for war at homeBWAS-1603

7 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1652Captain†BWAS-16031652 - 1653CaptainBWAS-16031653 - 1654CaptainBWAS-16031655 - 1656CaptainBWAS-16031656 - 1658CaptainBWAS-16037.5.1660 - 8.12.1662CaptainBWAS-160325.3.1665 - 13.10.1665CaptainB051

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
19.9.1651 - 1651CarpenterSPD-1651

Service History

DateEventSource
18.2.1652/53Battle of Portland
2.6.1653Battle of the Gabbard
31.7.1653Battle of Scheveningen
4.4.1655Battle of Porto Farina
1660Re-rated as a Sixth rateBWAS-1603
13.10.1665Taken while protecting a merchant convoy from a Dutch flotilla off Tangier. The Dutch consisted of 5 vessels fo 30 guns or more, the convoy of 16 or 17 vessels, the majority of which were able to escape into TangierBG
13.10.1665Taken by the Dutch by a Dutch squadron off CadizBWAS-1603

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

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

B028J. J. Colledge, Book

B051John Charnock, Digital Book

BGOfficial, Web Site

BWAS-1603Rif Winfield, Book

NRS013Samuel R. Gardiner, Book

SPD-1651Mary Anne Everett Green, Book

Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page

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

GDPR Statement