The 1637 Group of two 300 ton 'pinnaces' (early frigates) to carry fourteen pieces of ordnance and sixteen banks of oars were ordered on 12 December 1636. These vessels would carry thirty pieces of ordnance with ten pairs of gun ports on the lower deck with two pair forward and four pairs aft on the upper deck. The waist would be unprotected until two more pairs of gun ports were added later. Their measurements would compare favourably to the 'frigate' type vessels built a decade later. Their keel length : beam to ratio of 3.46 : 1 would make a more true frigate than the Constant Warwick.[1]
Design and specifications
The ships were built in Bermondsey under contract. Only order dates and launch dates are available for each ship. The specification dimensions are keel for tonnage 90 feet 0 inches (27.4 metres) with a breadth of 26 feet 0 inches (7.9 metres) and depth of hold of 13 feet 0 inches (4.0 metres). The builder's measurement was 32358⁄94 tons. When the vessels were remeasured after being girdled their dimensions were keel 90 feet 1 inch (27.5 metres) with a beam of 27 feet 4 inches (8.3 metres) and depth of hold of 11 feet 0 inches (3.4 metres). Their builder's measurement was then 35762⁄94 tons. Even with their wider beam of 27ft 4in after the girdling, their new keel length : beam to ratio of 3.29 : 1 meant that they were similar in proportion to the Constant Warwick.[2]
The gun armaments will be specified on within the ship articles as they varied between the vessels. As built they carried thirty guns, comprising culverins[3][Note 1] and demi-culverins on the gundeck,[4][Note 2] and sakers on the quarterdeck and forecastle (which would later be joined to form a continuous upper deck, initially unarmed in the waist but later with further gunports added).[5][Note 3] The initial manning of the ships was 120 personnel up to 1652, increasing to 140 souls from 1653.[6]
