HMS Vanguard (1631)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Vanguard.

HMS Vanguard was a 40-gun ship of the English Royal Navy, launched in 1631 at Woolwich,^[1] and was the second vessel to bear the name. Officially she was rebuilt from the first Vanguard, but likely only shared some of the timber and fittings from the previous ship. By 1660, her armament had been increased to 56 guns.^[1]

History
England
Name	HMS Vanguard
Ordered	29 October 1630
Builder	Bright, Woolwich
Launched	21 April 1631
Fate	Sunk as a blockship in the Upper Medway, 12 June 1667
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen	750 tons
Length	112 ft (34 m) (keel length)
Beam	36 ft 4 in (11.07 m); by 1660 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
Depth of hold	13 ft 10 in (4.22 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Complement	390 officers and men
Armament	40 guns (1642); 56 guns (1660)

She took part in both the First and Second Dutch Wars. The ship served as the flagship for General at Sea George Monck at the Battle of Portland in 1653, and of Vice-Admiral Joseph Jordan at the Battle of the Gabbard and the Battle of Scheveningen later the same year. She also took part in several actions of the Second Dutch War, including the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665 and the Four Days Battle and St James's Day Fight in 1666. In 1667 Vanguard was scuttled to form a barrier in the River Medway to prevent the Dutch fleet from capturing or burning the British ships there. She was subsequently sold.^[1]

Notes

1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p159.

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. Seaforth Publishing.