1646 Programme Group

The 1646 Programme of fourth-rate vessels were basically three individual ships built to differing dimensions. With Parliament approving the disposal of six elderly ships, instructions were issued for the speedy building of other vessels in their place. The main specification was to build vessels to carry 32 to 34 guns. Each vessel would have 11 pairs lower deck gun ports and five or six pairs on the quarterdeck. The vessels would actually have varying number of guns and the dimensional data would vary considerably. Three vessels were ordered in December 1645.[1]

Class overview
Name1646 Programme Group
Builders
Operators
  • Royal Navy Ensign Commonwealth Of England
  • Royal Navy Ensign Kingdom of England
  •  Royal Navy
Preceded by1637 Group
Succeeded by1647 Programme Group
Built1645 - 1646
In service1646 - 1709
Completed3
Lost2
Retired1
General characteristics
Type34-gun Fourth Rate
Sail planship-rigged
Armament32 to 34 guns

Design and specifications

The construction of the vessels was assigned to Woolwich and Deptford dockyards. The ships would be built under the supervision of Peter Pett I at Deptford and Peter Pett II at Woolwich. As with most vessels of this time period only order and launch dates are available. The dimensional data was so varied that it will be listed on the individual vessels along with their gun armament.[2]

Ships of the 1646 Programme Group
NameBuilderLaunch dateRemarks
Adventure (1646)Woolwich Dockyard1646
  • Rebuilt as Fifth Rate 1691
  • taken by French 1709
Assurance (1646)Deptford Dockyard1646
  • Reduced to Fifth Rate 1690
  • Sold 1698
Nonsuch (1646)Deptford Dockyard1646
  • Wrecked at Gibraltar 3 December 1664

Citations
  1. Winfield 2009
  2. Winfield 2009

References
  • British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © Rif Winfield 2009, EPUB ISBN 978-1-78346-924-6, Chapter 4, The Fourth Rates - 'Small Ships', Vessels acquired from 24 March 1603, 1646 Programme
  • Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt-Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © the estate of J.J. Colledge, Ben Warlow and Steve Bush 2020, EPUB ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7
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