English ship Ark Royal (1587) facts for kids
The Ark Royal, an old picture by Claes Jansz. Visscher
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 England |
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| Name | Ark Raleigh |
| Ordered | 1586 |
| Launched | 1587 |
| Commissioned | 1587 |
| Renamed |
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| Fate | Sunk in April 1636, raised and broken up in 1638 |
| Notes |
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| General characteristics as built | |
| Tons burthen | 555 bm |
| Complement | 268 sailors, 32 gunners, 100 soldiers |
| Armament |
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| General characteristics after 1608 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 42-gun royal ship |
| Tons burthen | 694 bm |
| Length | 103 ft (31 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 37 ft (11 m) |
| Depth of hold | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 42 guns of various weights of shot |
The Ark Royal was a famous English warship called a galleon. It was first built for Sir Walter Raleigh but was soon bought by the English Crown to join the Tudor navy. This ship became the main ship, or 'flagship', for England in many important battles, including the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The Ark Royal served for over 50 years! Because it was so famous, many other ships in the Royal Navy later got the name Ark Royal to honor it.
Contents
Building the Ark Royal
The Ark Royal was first built in 1587 in Deptford, England. It was made for Sir Walter Raleigh, a famous explorer and writer. He named the ship Ark Raleigh.
However, Queen Elizabeth I soon bought the ship from Sir Walter Raleigh. She paid £5,000 for it. After the Queen bought it, the ship was renamed Ark Royal.
The ship was very strong and had two decks for guns. It also had several other decks, like a quarter deck and a poop deck. Even though it was a powerful warship, it sometimes rocked a lot, which made the soldiers on board feel uncomfortable.
The Ship's Long Career
The Ark Royal had a very busy and important career. It was involved in many major events for England.
Fighting the Spanish Armada
The ship's first big battle was in 1588 against the Spanish Armada. This was a huge fleet of ships sent by Spain to invade England. The Ark Royal was the flagship, meaning it was the main ship, for the English fleet's leader, Lord High Admiral Howard.
After the English defeated the Armada, the Ark Royal led the chase. It followed the fleeing Spanish ships far into the North Sea.
Other Important Battles
The Ark Royal was also Lord Howard's flagship in 1596. This was during a raid on Cádiz, a city in Spain. The raid destroyed many Spanish ships in the harbor.
In 1599, the Ark Royal was again the flagship. This was when Spain threatened to invade England once more.
Renamed Anne Royal
When James VI and I became King of England, the ship was renamed Anne Royal. This was in honor of his wife, Anne of Denmark.
In 1608, the ship was rebuilt at Woolwich Dockyard. It became a 42-gun royal ship, meaning it carried 42 cannons. Under its new name, it was the flagship for Lord Wimbledon during the 1625 raid on Cádiz. However, this mission did not go well because it was not planned properly.
The End of the Ark Royal
The Ark Royal served for a long time, until April 1636. It was being moved to become the flagship for another admiral, Sir John Penington.
While anchored in shallow water, the ship accidentally hit its own anchor. This made a hole in its side, and the ship began to sink in the river.
The ship was later pulled out of the water. But it was so badly damaged that it could not be fixed. So, in 1638, the famous Ark Royal was taken apart.
