English ship Nonsuch (1603)

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

History
English FlagEngland
NamePhilip and Mary, built 1555–56
Renamed
  • Nonpareil in 1584
  • Nonsuch in 1605
FateSold, c. 1645
General characteristics as built
Class and typeGalleon
General characteristics after 1603-05 rebuild[1]
Class and type32-gun great ship
Tons burthen636
Length88 ft (27 m) (keel)
Beam34 ft (10 m)
Depth of hold15 ft (4.6 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement250 (1633)
Armament32 carriage guns of various weights of shot, plus 6 smaller weapons

Nonsuch was a galleon of the English Navy. She was built on the orders of Queen Mary (reign, 1553–1558) in 1555–56 as the Philip and Mary and renamed twice during her career — first to Nonpareil when she was rebuilt at Deptford in 1584, and later as Nonsuch when she was again rebuilt from 1603 to 1605.[Note 1]

Following her first rebuilding, she was mentioned in the Paris archives as part of Elizabeth I's fleet in 1588 in A Statement of the two fleets possessed by the Queen of England, with numbers and names of the ships, listed as "400 tons, 17 pieces each side, four pieces at the prow and the same at the stern. Her complement was 250 comprising 150 mariners, 30 gunners and 70 soldiers". The ship was under the command of Drake in 1588 - "Drake has also six large ships of the Queen's, namely :—Revenge, Hope, Nonpareil, Swiftsure, Aid and Advice, with 45 of the best merchant ships they could select, at the Isle of Wight."

On 14 February 1591 a warrant was made "to pay to Sir John Hawkins 1,566l. 13s. 4d. disbursed in setting forth the Nonpareil".

In June 1602 she was off the coast of Spain and attacked Cezimbra Bay near Lisbon (Portugal) which resulted in the capture of a large carrack loaded with treasure valued at a million ducats.

In 1603-05 she was rebuilt a second time as a great ship, and renamed Nonsuch. Now of 454 tons, she carried 32 primary guns (2 cannon periers, 12 culverins, 12 demi-culverins and 6 sakers) and 6 smaller and more anti-personnel weapons (2 falconets and 4 fowlers).[1]

She was sold out of the navy in late 1645.[1]

Notes

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

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 158.

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.
  • http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=87181&strquery=nonpareil


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