HMS Centurion (1650)

Commodore Richard Beach and Dutch Admiral Van Ghent in a joint task force destroy six Barbary ships near Cape Spartel, Morocco, 17 August 1670, Centurion is at the far left
History
Commonwealth of England
Name	Centurion
Ordered	December 1649
Builder	Peter Pett I, Ratcliffe
Launched	1650
Commissioned	1650
Honours and awards	Dover 1652 Portland 1653 Gabbard 1653 Scheveningen 1653 Santa Cruz 1657
Kingdom of England
Acquired	May 1660
Honours and awards	Lowestoft Orfordness 1666
Fate	Wrecked in a storm 25 December 1689
General characteristics
Class and type	42-gun Fourth rate
Tons burthen	531+58⁄94 tons (bm)
Length	104 ft 3 in (31.8 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	31 ft 0 in (9.4 m)
Depth of hold	15 ft 6 in (4.7 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	ship-rigged
Complement	180 personnel 230/200/150 personnel in 1688
Armament	50 guns – 1653 48 guns – under 1666 establishment 22 × culverins (LD) 20 × demi-culverins (UD) 6 × sakers (QD) 1681 52 guns 22 × culverins (LD) 22 × 8-pounder guns (UD) 8 × Minions (QD) 1685 Establishment 22 × culverin drakes (LD) 22 × 8-pounder guns (UD) 6 × saker cutts (QD)

HMS Centurion was one of six 40-gun fourth-rate frigates, built for the Commonwealth of England under the 1650 Programme, she would be transferred to the navy of the Kingdom of England upon the Restoration of the monarchy in May 1660. When commissioned she partook in the First Anglo-Dutch War. After the first war ended she was in the Mediterranean fighting the Algerines at the Battle of Santa Cruz. She fought the battles of Dover, Portland, the Gabbard, and Scheveningen. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War she partook in the battles of Lowestoft and Orfordness. Following the second war she spent her time either in North America or the Mediterranean. She was wrecked in a storm in December 1689.^[1]

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