English ship Antelope (1546) facts for kids
The Antelope as depicted in the Anthony Roll
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 England |
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| Name | Antelope |
| Launched | 1546 |
| Fate | Burnt, 1649 |
| Notes |
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| General characteristics as built | |
| Tons burthen | 300 |
| Propulsion | Sweeps, sails |
| Complement | 200 officers and men |
| Armament | 44 guns of various weights of shot |
| General characteristics after 1558 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 38-gun Galleon |
| Tons burthen | 341 tons |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Complement | 160 officers, men and soldiers |
| Armament | 38 guns of various weights of shot |
| General characteristics after 1581 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 38-gun Galleon |
| Tons burthen | 350 tons |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Complement | 160 officers, men and soldiers |
| Armament | 38 guns of various weights of shot |
| General characteristics after 1618 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 34-gun Middling ship |
| Tons burthen | 450 tons |
| Length | 92 ft (28 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 32 ft (9.8 m) |
| Depth of hold | 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 34 guns of various weights of shot |
The Antelope was a famous ship from England's old navy, called the Tudor navy. It was launched in 1546 during the time of King Henry VIII. This ship was special because it was rebuilt three times! This meant it served for a very long time, from Henry VIII's reign all the way to the English Civil War. The Antelope is best known for helping to defeat the huge Spanish Armada.
Contents
The Antelope's Journey: A Ship Through Time
The Antelope was built in 1546. A list from 1547 shows it had a crew of 170 sailors and 30 gunners. It carried many different types of guns. These included large brass cannons and smaller iron guns. The ship also had hand weapons like bows and pikes.
A navy list from 1548 described the Antelope as a "galleass" weighing 300 tons. It had 200 crew members and 44 guns. Pictures from the Anthony Roll show it had a flat deck and guns on its lower deck. It also had four masts for its sails. In 1549, the Antelope was re-classified as a regular 'ship'.
Early Adventures and Rebuilds
In 1559, the Antelope was involved in a fight against Scotland. A big storm hit the fleet, scattering 12 ships. But Captain Southwick managed to bring the Antelope back to join the fleet.
The ship was rebuilt in 1558. It became a galleon weighing 341 tons. This rebuild added a forecastle (front part of the ship) and a half-deck at the back. In 1581, it was rebuilt again. This time, it became a faster, "race-built" galleon of 400 tons. By 1603, the Antelope weighed 350 tons. It had a crew of 160 people, including sailors, gunners, and soldiers. At this time, it carried 26 heavy guns and 12 lighter ones.
Facing the Spanish Armada
The Antelope played an important role in 1588. It was part of the English fleet that fought against the mighty Spanish Armada. The Armada was a huge fleet of Spanish ships trying to invade England. The Antelope had 170 crew members and 30 guns during this famous battle.
Sir Henry Palmer was the captain of the Antelope. His ship was part of Lord Henry Seymour's group. They fought in the Battle of Gravelines. After the battle, they chased the Spanish fleet north. In 1597, the Antelope joined an expedition to the Azores islands. This trip, led by the Earl of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh, was not successful.
Later Years and Final Moments
The Antelope was rebuilt for a third time in 1618. It was then called a "middling ship" and weighed 450 tons. It carried 34 guns. One of its last notable actions was joining an expedition against Algiers in 1620-1621. This trip, led by Sir Robert Mansell, did not go well.
In October 1624, a storm hit the Antelope. It was under the command of Sir Thomas Button. The ship was pushed onto the Goodwin Sands, a dangerous sandbank. It lost all its masts and its rudder. Luckily, it managed to get free and was repaired by Phineas Pett. His son, John, was on board and wrote about the scary event.
During the Second English Civil War in 1648, the Antelope joined the royalist side. This meant it supported the King. The ship was taken to the Netherlands. Prince Rupert, who led the royalist fleet, sold the Antelope's brass guns to equip other ships.
In the spring of 1649, the Antelope was ready for sea again. However, sailors from a Parliamentarian ship, the Happy Entrance, surprised the royalist crew. They took the Antelope without a fight and immediately destroyed it. This was the end of the long-serving Antelope.
