1689 Programme Group

Class overview
Name	1689 Programme Group
Builders	Woolwich Dockyard Deptford Dockyard Chatham Dockyard Sheerness Dockyard Portsmouth Dockyard
Operators	Royal Navy
Preceded by	Mermaid (1651)
Succeeded by	1693 Programme Group
Built	1689–1691
In service	1690–1741
Completed	5
Lost	3
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	32-gun fifth rate
Tons burthen	356+70⁄94 bm
Length	105 ft (32 m) gundeck 92 ft (28 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	27 ft (8.2 m) for tonnage
Depth of hold	10 ft (3 m)
Sail plan	ship-rigged
Armament	as built 4 × 4 demi-culverines on wooden trucks (LD) 20 × sakers on wooden trucks (UD) 4 × 4 minions on wooden trucks (QD) 1703 Establishment 4 × 4 9-pdr guns on wooden trucks (LD) 22/20 × 6-pdr guns on wooden trucks (UD) 6/4 × 4-pdr guns on wooden trucks (QD)

The 1689 Programme of fifth rates were devised by Admiral the Earl of Torrington (Arthur Herbert) as the prototype demi-batterie ships of the Royal Navy. The concept was to have one tier of ordnance flush on the upper deck for use in all weathers on a freeboard of at least seven feet. The ordnance would be arranged with a minimum of ten gun ports on the upper deck. The lower deck would be provided with four ports for heavier guns that could only be used in calm weather. For added propulsion ten oar ports per side would be provided with a central loading port. Five new 32-gun vessels to these specifications were ordered from Naval Dockyards in June 1689.^[1]