HMS Suffolk (1680) facts for kids
Drawing of the launching of the ship by Van de Velde the Elder, 1680.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Kingdom of England |
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| Name | HMS Suffolk |
| Ordered | 20 February 1678 |
| Builder | Sir Henry Johnson, Blackwall Yard |
| Launched | May 1680 |
| Commissioned | 11 August 1680 |
| Honours and awards |
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| Fate | Broken up, 1765 |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | 70-gun third-rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 104123⁄94 tons(bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 40 ft 2 in (12.24 m) |
| Draught | 18 ft (5.49 m) |
| Depth of hold | 16 ft 9.5 in (5.12 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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| General characteristics after 1699 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 70-gun third-rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1,07517⁄94 tons (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 40 ft 4.5 in (12.3 m) |
| Depth of hold | 16 ft 7.5 in (5.1 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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| General characteristics after 1718 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 1706 Establishment 70-gun third-rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1,1294⁄94 tons (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 41 ft 2 in (12.5 m) |
| Depth of hold | 17 ft 4 in (5.3 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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| General characteristics after 1739 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 70-gun third-rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1,2248⁄94 tons (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 43 ft 5 in (13.2 m) |
| Depth of hold | 17 ft 9 in (5.4 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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HMS Suffolk was a powerful 70-gun ship of the line that served in the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of England. She was built by Sir Henry Johnson at Blackwall and launched in May 1680. This ship played a big part in important wars like the War of the English Succession and the War of Spanish Succession.
Suffolk was rebuilt several times to keep her strong and ready for battle. She was the very first ship in the English and Royal Navy to be named Suffolk. She earned special recognition for her bravery in three major battles: Barfleur 1692, Gibraltar 1704, and Velez-Malaga 1704. After a long career, she was finally taken apart in 1765.
Contents
- Building a Warship: HMS Suffolk's Design
- Early Years: Service from 1680 to 1699
- First Rebuild: A Stronger Ship in 1699
- War of Spanish Succession: 1701 to 1717
- Second Rebuild: Chatham Dockyard 1716-1718
- Later Service: 1719 to 1736
- Third Rebuild: Woolwich Dockyard 1736-1739
- Final Years of Service: 1739 to 1765
- End of an Era: Disposition
Building a Warship: HMS Suffolk's Design
Suffolk was ordered on February 20, 1678. She was built by Sir Henry Johnson at Blackwall, a famous shipbuilding area on the River Thames. The ship was ready and launched into the water in May 1680.
Her main deck, called the gun deck, was about 46 meters (150 feet 10 inches) long. The ship was about 12 meters (40 feet 2 inches) wide. When first built, Suffolk was designed to carry 72 guns, but usually carried 70. These guns included large demi-cannons on the lower deck and smaller 12-pounder guns on the upper deck. She also had lighter sakers on her upper decks. A crew of about 300 to 460 sailors would operate the ship.
Early Years: Service from 1680 to 1699
Suffolk officially joined the navy on August 11, 1680. Her first captain was John Perryman. In 1689, she joined the fleet under Captain Matthew Aylmer.
Key Battles and Commanders
- Battle of Beachy Head (1690): In 1690, under Captain Woolfran Cornwall, Suffolk fought in the Battle of Beachy Head. This was a major naval battle where she was part of the central squadron.
- Battle of Barfleur (1692): From 1691, she had new commanders like Captain Peregrine Osbourne and Captain Christopher Billop. In May 1692, Suffolk took part in the Battle of Barfleur, a very important victory for the English and Dutch fleets.
- After these battles, she served under Captain James Wishart and Captain Robert Robinson. In 1696, she was the flagship for Admiral John Benbow.
In 1699, after almost two decades of service, Suffolk was sent back to Blackwall to be rebuilt.
First Rebuild: A Stronger Ship in 1699
The rebuild of Suffolk was also done by Sir Henry Johnson at Blackwall. She was finished and ready for service again in April 1699.
After this rebuild, Suffolk was slightly larger. Her gun deck was now about 46.1 meters (151 feet 4 inches) long, and she was about 12.3 meters (40 feet 4.5 inches) wide. She still carried around 70 guns, keeping her role as a powerful warship.
War of Spanish Succession: 1701 to 1717
In 1701, Suffolk was recommissioned under Captain Thomas Foulis. When the War of the Spanish Succession began in May 1702, she joined Sir Cloudesley Shovell's fleet.
Battles and Engagements
- Capture of Gibraltar (1704): In 1703, under Captain Robert Kirton, Suffolk joined Sir George Rooke's fleet. She played a part in the Capture of Gibraltar on July 24, 1704. This was a key victory, securing the strategic port of Gibraltar.
- Battle of Velez-Malaga (1704): Shortly after Gibraltar, on August 13, Suffolk fought in the Battle of Velez-Malaga. This was one of the biggest naval battles of the war. Suffolk suffered some damage, with 13 sailors killed and 38 wounded.
- West Indies and Mediterranean: In 1705, Suffolk sailed to the West Indies, serving as the flagship for Rear-Admiral William Whetstone. Later, from 1708, she was in the Mediterranean Sea. She even captured a 38-gun French ship called Le Gaillard in May 1710.
Suffolk returned home in July 1711, having played a crucial role in the war.
Second Rebuild: Chatham Dockyard 1716-1718
Suffolk was ordered to be rebuilt or repaired again, this time at Chatham Dockyard. The work began in March 1716 and was completed by November 20, 1718.
This rebuild made her even larger. Her gun deck was still about 46.1 meters (151 feet 4 inches) long, but her width increased to about 12.5 meters (41 feet 2 inches). Her armament was updated to 70 guns, including 24-pounder guns on the lower deck and 12-pounder guns on the upper deck. She now had a standard crew of 440 people.
Later Service: 1719 to 1736
After her second rebuild, Suffolk was back in action.
- In 1719, she was commanded by Captain Charles Stewart and joined Admiral Sir John Norris's Baltic Fleet.
- She served in the Baltic Sea again in 1727 under Captain John Cockburn.
- Later, she joined Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Wager's fleet in the Mediterranean.
- For a few winters, from 1731 to 1733, she served as a guard ship at Sheerness Dockyard, protecting the port.
By January 1736, Suffolk was taken apart with plans for another major rebuild.
Third Rebuild: Woolwich Dockyard 1736-1739
The final major rebuild of Suffolk began on December 3, 1735, at Woolwich Dockyard. She was launched again on March 5, 1739.
This rebuild made her the largest she had ever been. Her width increased to about 13.2 meters (43 feet 5 inches). She kept her 70-gun setup, with powerful 24-pounder guns on the lower deck and 12-pounder guns on the upper deck. Her crew size remained at 440.
Final Years of Service: 1739 to 1765
Suffolk was commissioned for her final period of service in 1739.
- In 1740, she sailed to the West Indies.
- She took part in the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in March and April 1741.
- In 1742, under Captain Charles Knowles, she joined the expedition to Caracas.
- During the Battle of La Guaira in 1743, Suffolk faced heavy fighting, with 30 sailors killed and 80 wounded. She also fought in the Battle of Puerto Cabello.
- After returning to England, she served in the English Channel.
- In 1745, under Commodore FitzRoy Henry Lee, she was in the Leeward Islands and captured a French privateer ship called Diligent.
End of an Era: Disposition
After her long and active career, Suffolk returned to England and was placed in in ordinary, meaning she was kept in reserve and not actively used. She stayed inactive for nearly 20 years. Finally, on June 12, 1765, HMS Suffolk was broken up, marking the end of her impressive service to the Royal Navy.
