HMS Anne (1678) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 England |
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| Name | HMS Anne |
| Builder | Phineas Pett II, Chatham Dockyard |
| Launched | 1678 |
| Honours and awards |
Participated in: Battle of Beachy Head |
| Fate | Burnt, 1690 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | 70-gun third rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1,089 long tons (1,106.5 t) |
| Length | 150 ft 10 in (46.0 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 40 ft (12.2 m) |
| Depth of hold | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 70 guns of various weights of shot |
The HMS Anne was a large warship built for the English Royal Navy in 1678. It had 70 guns and was known as a 'third-rate ship of the line'. This meant it was a powerful warship of its time.
It was put into service in 1687. Later, during a big conflict called the Nine Years' War, the Anne fought in the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690. To stop it from being captured by the enemy, the ship was run aground and burned. Today, the remains of the Anne are a protected shipwreck, looked after by Historic England.
Contents
Building a Powerful Warship
The Anne was one of 20 new warships ordered in 1677. This project was called the "Thirty Ships Programme." It was started because other countries, like the Dutch and French, had more warships than England.
Ship Design and Size
The Anne was built by Phineas Pett II at Chatham Dockyard. It was a large ship for its time.
- It was about 150 ft 10 in (46.0 m) long on its main gun deck.
- The ship was about 40 ft (12.2 m) wide.
- It could carry a crew of 460 sailors.
The Anne was armed with 70 guns. These guns were placed on different decks. For example, the lower deck had 22 large guns called demi-cannons. The upper deck had 26 smaller guns.
The ship was launched in November 1678. It might have been named after Princess Anne, who later became Queen Anne.
Life at Sea: The Anne's Service
The Anne began its service in 1687. Its first captain was Cloudesley Shovell. The ship was the flagship for the Duke of Grafton.
Escorting Royalty
One of its first missions was to escort the Queen of Portugal, Maria Sophia of Neuberg. The Anne helped bring her safely to Plymouth.
Battle of Beachy Head
In 1690, the Anne took part in the Battle of Beachy Head. This was a major naval battle during the Nine Years' War. Captain John Tyrrell was in command.
During the battle, the Anne was badly damaged. Its masts, which hold the sails, were broken. To prevent the ship from being captured by the enemy, it was sailed onto the beach near Winchelsea. There, it was set on fire on July 6, 1690. The Anne was the only English ship lost in this battle.
A Protected Shipwreck
Today, the remains of the Anne lie on the beach near Pett Level, East Sussex. In 1974, the wreck was made a protected site under the British Protection of Wrecks Act. The Nautical Museums Trust owns the wreck.
