HMS Bristol (1653)

History
Commonwealth Navy EnsignCommonwealth of England
NameBristol
NamesakeBristol
Ordered27 February 1652
BuilderPortsmouth Dockyard
Launched1653
Commissioned1653
Honours and
awards
Santa Cruz 1657
History
Royal Navy EnsignKingdom of England
NameBristol
AcquiredMay 1660
Honours and
awards
  • Lowestoft 1665
  • Four Days' Battle 1666
  • Orfordness 1666
  • Solebay 1672
  • Tesel 1673
Great Britain
NameBristol
Acquired1707 Act of Union
Captured24 April 1709
FateBy two French ships
French Royal Navy EnsignKingdom of France
Acquired12 April 1709
Captured25 April 1709, by the Royal Navy
FateFoundered
General characteristics as built
Class and type44-gun Fourth-rate
Tons burthen534+4594 tons bm
Length
  • 104 ft (31.7 m) gundeck
  • 104 ft (31.7 m) Keel for tonnage
Beam31 ft 1 in (9.5 m)
Draught15 ft 8 in (4.8 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 0 in (4.0 m)
Sail planship-rigged
Complement
  • 200 personnel in 1653
  • 150 personnel in 1660
  • 200 personnel in 1666
  • 230/200/150 personnel as per establishment
Armament
  • 50 guns 1653
  • 44 guns 1660
  • 1666 Establishment
  • 26 × culverins
  • 22 × demi-culverins
  • 4 × sakers
General characteristics after 1693 rebuild
Class and type50-gun fourth-rate
Tons burthen489+094 tons bm
Length130 ft (39.6 m) (gundeck)
Beam35 ft 2 in (10.7 m)
Depth of hold13 ft (4.0 m)
Sail planship-rigged
Complement280/230/150 personnel
Armament
  • 38 guns 1696 survey
  • 18 × culverins (LD)
  • 20 × 8-pounder guns (UD)
  • 1703 Establishment
  • 22/20 × 12-pounder guns (LD)
  • 22/18 × 6-pounder guns (UD)
  • 8/6 × 6-pounder guns (QD)
  • 2 × 6-pounder guns (Fc)

Bristol was a 44-gun fourth rate vessel of the Commonwealth of England built under the 1651 Programme. She arrived too late for the First Anglo-Dutch War, however, was an active participant in the Second Anglo-Dutch War though in the Third she was no longer used as a line-of battle vessel and reverted to a role of cruising against privateers. She was lost in this role in the English Channel when she was captured by the French. Two weeks she was recaptured by the English and sank in 1709.[1]

Bristol was the first named vessel in the English and Royal Navy.[2]

  1. ^ Winfield p.98
  2. ^ Colledge p.49