English ship Swiftsure (1573)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Swiftsure and HMS Speedwell.

Swiftsure^{[Note 1]} was a galleon of the English Navy, launched in 1573. She was rebuilt in 1592.

History
England
Name	Swiftsure
Builder	Peter Pett, at Deptford Dockyard
Launched	1573
Renamed	Speedwell
Fate	Lost, 1624
General characteristics as built
Class and type	Galleon
Tons burthen	350
Complement	200
Armament	29 major guns, plus 4 fowlers
General characteristics after 1607 rebuild[1]
Class and type	Middling ship
Tons burthen	333
Length	74 ft (23 m) (keel)
Beam	30 ft (9.1 m)
Depth of hold	15 ft (4.6 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship

In 1607 she was renamed Speedwell,^[1] when she was rebuilt for a second time at Deptford, now classed as a middling ship.^[1] She was wrecked near Vlissingen on 1 November 1624.^[1]

Notes

1. The 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the 18th century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively

Citations

1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p158.

References

• Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
• Winfield, Rif (2009) British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603-1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6.