HMS Ruby (1652)

History
Commonwealth Navy EnsignCommonwealth of England
NameRuby
OrderedMay 1651
BuilderDeptford Dockyard
Launched15 March 1652
Commissioned1653
Royal Navy EnsignKingdom of England
AcquiredMay 1660
RenamedHMS Ruby
Great Britain
Captured21 October 1707 (by the French ship Mars)
FateNot incorporated into French Navy; sold into commercial service
General characteristics as built
Tons burthen556+7794 tons (bm)
Length
  • 125 ft 6 in (38.3 m) gundeck
  • 105 ft 6 in (32.2 m) Keel for tonnage
Beam31 ft 6 in (9.6 m)
Depth of hold15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
Sail planship-rigged
Complement226
Armament40 guns (1660); 48 guns (1677)
General characteristics after 1706 rebuild
Class and type46-54-gun fourth rate
Tons burthen674+8894 tons (bm)
Length
  • 128 ft 4 in (39.1 m) gundeck
  • 105 ft 7 in (32.2 m) keel for tonnage
Beam34 ft 8 in (10.6 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 7 in (4.1 m)
Sail planship-rigged
Complement280/185 personnel
Armament
  • 54/46 guns 1703 Establishment
  • 22/20 × 12-pounder guns (LD)
  • 20/18 × 6-pounder guns (UD)
  • 8/6 × 6-pounder guns (QD)
  • 2 × 6-pounder guns (Fc)

HMS Ruby was a 40-gun frigate of the Commonwealth of England, built by Peter Pett at Deptford. She took part in actions during all three of the Anglo-Dutch Wars of 1652–1654, 1665–1667 and 1672–1674. She later served in the West Indies, and in 1683 was sent to the Leeward Islands to protect British settlements against Caribbean pirate raids. In 1687, the English pirate Joseph Bannister was captured by the crew of Ruby and brought to Port Royal for trial. She was rebuilt in 1687. She was captured by the French in October 1707.