English ship Vanguard (1586) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 England |
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| Name | Vanguard |
| Launched | 1586 |
| Fate | Broken up, 1630 |
| Notes |
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| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | 32-gun galleon |
| Tons burthen | 500 |
| Armament | 32 guns of various weights of shot |
| General characteristics after 1599 rebuild | |
| Tons burthen | Unknown |
| General characteristics after 1615 rebuild | |
| Class and type | Great ship |
| Tons burthen | 665 tons |
| Length | 102 ft (31 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
The Vanguard was an important English warship built in 1586. It was a type of ship called a galleon, which was a large sailing ship used for both war and trade. This particular Vanguard was the first ship in the English navy to have this name. It was built in Woolwich, a place in England known for shipbuilding.
Contents
The Vanguard was part of the Tudor navy, which was the navy of England during the time of the Tudor kings and queens. It had 32 guns, which means it could fire 32 cannonballs at enemies. These guns were of different sizes and fired different weights of shot.
Key Moments in History
The Vanguard played a very important role in a famous battle. In 1588, it helped fight against the Spanish Armada. The Spanish Armada was a huge fleet of ships sent by Spain to invade England. The Vanguard was a key part of the English defense.
In 1589, a commander named George Beeston anchored the Vanguard in the River Forth near Leith in Scotland. This shows how far these ships traveled.
Famous Commanders
Over the years, the Vanguard was commanded by several well-known naval leaders.
- In 1594, Martin Frobisher was in charge of the ship. He was a famous explorer and privateer.
- In 1596, Sir Robert Mansell commanded the Vanguard. He later became a respected admiral.
- In 1620, during battles against Algerian pirates, Sir Richard Hawkins used the Vanguard as his main ship. This meant his flag was flown from the Vanguard.
Rebuilding the Vanguard
Ships like the Vanguard were often rebuilt to keep them strong and modern.
- The Vanguard was first taken apart and rebuilt in 1599.
- It was rebuilt a second time in 1615 at Chatham. After this rebuild, it was considered a "great ship." This meant it was a very large and powerful warship for its time. It measured about 31 meters (102 feet) long along its keel.
The End of the Vanguard
The Vanguard served the English navy for many years. In 1630, it was finally "broken up." This means it was taken apart and its useful parts were removed. Some of its strong wooden timbers were even used to build the next ship named Vanguard. This new ship was launched just one year later, in 1631. It was officially seen as a rebuild of the first Vanguard.
