HMS Crown (1654) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 Commonwealth of England |
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| Name | Taunton |
| Builder | Castle, Rotherhithe |
| Launched | 1654 |
| Kingdom of England |
|
| Renamed | HMS Crown, 1660 |
 Great Britain |
|
| Fate | Wrecked, 1719 |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | Fourth-rate frigate |
| Length | 104 ft (31.7 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 31 ft 8 in (9.7 m) |
| Depth of hold | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 40 guns (1660); 48 guns (1677) |
| General characteristics after 1704 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 46-54-gun fourth-rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 652 |
| Length | 126 ft 8 in (38.6 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 34 ft 5.5 in (10.5 m) |
| Depth of hold | 13 ft 6 in (4.1 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 46-54 guns of various weights of shot |
The Taunton was a powerful warship built in England. It was a type of ship called a frigate, which was known for being fast. The ship had 40 guns and was launched in 1654. It was built by William Castle in a place called Rotherhithe.
Contents
Early Life of HMS Crown
From Taunton to Crown
In 1660, something big happened in England called the Restoration. This was when the monarchy, or the rule by kings and queens, was brought back. Because of this change, the ship's name was changed from Taunton to HMS Crown.
Growing Stronger
Over time, the Crown became even more powerful. By 1677, it had more guns. Its firepower increased from 40 to 48 guns. This made it a stronger ship for battles at sea.
Battles and Rebuilds
A Key Capture
The Crown was involved in an important battle on March 14, 1674. Captain Richard Carter led the Crown and two other ships, HMS Newcastle and HMS Cambridge. They worked together to capture a large Dutch merchant ship called Wapen van Rotterdam. This happened during a conflict known as the Third Anglo-Dutch War.
A Major Upgrade
In 1704, the Crown went through a big change. It was taken to a special shipyard in Deptford. Here, the ship was rebuilt and made even better. After this rebuild, it was relaunched as a "ship of the line." This meant it was a very large warship, ready to fight in the main battle line. It now carried between 46 and 54 guns.
The End of the Crown
Sadly, the Crown met its end in 1719. The ship was wrecked, meaning it was destroyed at sea.
