HDMS Christianus Sixtus (1733)

HDMS Christianus Sixtus (1733) was a three-deck 90-gun ship-of-the-line designed to be the flagship of the Danish fleet, and named after the monarch of the time, King Christian VI

History
Danish Navy EnsignDenmark-Norway
BuilderBenstrup[1] at Nyholm, Copenhagen
Laid down20 May 1732[2][1]
Launched7 December 1733[2][1]
Decommissioned1769[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeThree deck Ship-of-the-line and fleet flagship[2]
Length180 ft[2]
Beam48 ft[2]
Draught
  • 19 ft 10 in (fore)[2]
  • 21 ft 8 in (aft)[2]
Propulsionsail
Armament90 cannon – 36 pdr. in the main battery[2]
NotesCaveat - Danish measurements may be slightly different from UK Imperial units

The ship's history

Designed by K N Benstrup in his role as senior fabrikmester, and built and launched in Copenhagen, the ship was immediately a source of contention as she drew a greater depth (by some six inches) than planned.[3] This was due to the use of poorly seasoned timber which was thus heavier than calculated. As much of Danish naval strategy was planned around the relatively shallower waters of the Kattegat and Great Belt, compared with the deeper North Sea and Baltic, this could be a problem[2].
The controversy grew as blame was cast on Benstrup, and other senior officers played out their animosities and conspired to court martial the designer[Note 1].
As an expensive capital ship Christian Sextus appears never to have actually left harbour, and was fully commissioned only once in her 35 years of life. This was in 1743 when there was a question over succession to the Swedish throne.[2]

Notes
  1. See Knud Nielsen Benstrup for the commission of inquiry and court martial

References
  1. Royal Danish Naval Museum - Christianus Sixtus
  2. Nielsen E.
  3. Topsøe-Jensen

Citations
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