Battle of Lowestoft order of battle

The ships that participated in the Battle of Lowestoft, a naval engagement between the English and Dutch off the English port of Lowestoft on 13 June (New Style) 1665 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. 95 English ships (later rising to 100 when ships joined during the battle), commanded by James Stuart, Duke of York, faced 107 Dutch ships led by Jacob van Wassenaer, Baron Obdam. The battle ended in a victory for the English, capturing 9 Dutch ships and sinking 8 others, for the loss of only one ship (the Charity).

The Battle of Lowestoft, 13 June 1665, showing Royal Charles and the Eendracht by Hendrik van Minderhout, painted c. 1665

British fleet

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Although the fleet list dated 10 May (20 May N.S.) names 109 vessels of the 6th Rate and above, 19 had been detached for other duties before the battle, while 5 previously unlisted vessels had arrived. Thus there were 95 ships at the commencement of the battle. 5 of the detached vessels rejoined the fleet during the battle, bringing the total to exactly 100 ships.[1] This total included 24 hired merchantmen (indicated as such in the 'Notes' column).

The White Squadron

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The White (or Van) Squadron was under Prince Rupert - his flagship being the Royal James.

Ship Guns Commander Notes
Van Division
Colchester 28 Captain Daniel Helling
Triumph 70 Vice-Admiral Christopher Myngs
Monck 54 Captain Thomas Penrose
Newcastle 48 Captain Thomas Page
Lion 52 Captain Edward Spragge
Ruby 46 Captain William Jennens
Expedition 30 Captain Tobias Sackler
John and Abigail 40 Captain Joseph Sanders Hired merchantman
Happy Return 40 Captain John Hubbard Hired merchantman
Katherine 36 Captain Thomas Elliot Hired merchantman
John and Katherine 36 Captain John Whately Hired merchantman
Centre Division
Reserve 46 Captain John Tyrwhit
Rainbow 56 Captain Willoughby Hannam
Exchange 36 Captain Samuel Wentworth Hired merchantman
Revenge 58 Captain Robert Holmes
Royal James 78 Admiral Prince Rupert
Flag-captain John Kempthorne
Garland 28 Captain Charles Talbot
Hound 8 Captain James Coleman Fireship
Dolphin 4 Captain William Gregory Fireship
Assurance 32 Captain John Jeffries
Mary Rose 48 Captain William Reeves
Henrietta 58 Captain Walter Wood
Bendish 42 Captain Robert Taylor Hired merchantman
Portland 46 Captain John Aylett
Rear Division
East India Merchant 44 Captain John Wilgresse Hired merchantman
St. Andrew 60 Captain Valentine Pine
Advice 40 Captain William Poole
Bear 42 Captain John Waterworth
Constant Katherine 40 Captain Francis Sanders Hired merchantman
Kent 46 Captain Thomas Ewens
Anne 58 Captain Arnold Brown
Resolution 58 Rear-Admiral Robert Sansum Sansum killed in the battle
Milford 28 Captain John Seale
Small craft
Hind 8 Captain John Withers Ketch
Sea Venture
James
Desire
Little Sampson
William & Mary

The Red Squadron

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The Red (or Centre) Squadron was under the Duke of York - his flagship being the Royal Charles.

Ship Guns Commander Notes
Van Division
Bristol 48 Captain John Hart
Gloucester 58 Captain Robert Clark
Royal Exchange 46 Captain Giles Shelley Hired merchantman
Diamond 46 Captain John King
Martin Galley 14 Captain Richard White
Royal Oak 100 Vice-Admiral Sir John Lawson Lawson died of his wounds after the battle
Norwich 24 Captain John Wetwang
Guinea 36 Captain John Abelson Abelson killed in the battle
St. George 60 Captain Joseph Jordan
Coast Frigate 34 Captain Thomas Lawson Hired merchantman
Dover 46 Captain Jeffery Pearse
King Ferdinando 36 Captain Francis Johnson Hired merchantman
Centre Division
Plymouth 56 Captain Thomas Allin
Fountain 30 Captain Jean Baptiste du Tiel
Blackamore 38 Captain Richard Neales Hired merchantman
Mary 58 Captain Jeremiah Smith
Happy Return 50 Captain James Lambert
Royal Charles 80 James, Duke of York
Sir William Penn
Flag-captain John Harman
Mermaid 28 Captain Jasper Grant
Fame 12 Captain John Gethings Fireship
Bramble 8 Captain Nepthali Ball Fireship
Antelope 46 Captain John Chicheley
Old James 68 Captain James Ley, 3rd Earl of Marlborough Marlborough killed in the battle
Loyal George 42 Captain John Earle Hired merchantman
Yarmouth 52 Captain Thomas Ayliffe
Vanguard 56 Captain Jonas Poole
Convertine 48 Captain John Pearce
Charity 46 Captain Robert Wilkinson Sunk by Dutch fireship
Rear Division
Eagle 44 Captain Thomas Hendra Hired merchantman
Amity 36 Captain John Parker
Satisfaction 46 Captain Richard May Hired merchantman
HMS Fairfax 58 Captain Robert Salmon
Swiftsure 60 Rear-Admiral Sir William Berkeley
Bonaventure 40 Captain Arthur Laughorne
Portsmouth 38 Captain Robert Mohun
George 40 Captain Robert Hatubb Hired merchantman
Leopard 54 Captain Richard Beach
Sapphire 38 Captain Henry Hyde
Loyal Merchant 44 Captain Robert Sanders Hired merchantman
Small craft
Roe 8 Captain James Lock Ketch
Eaglet 8 Captain William Berry Ketch
St. George
Bachelor
Isabella
Hopeful Margaret
Seaflower
Edward & Eve

The Blue Squadron

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The Blue (or Rear) Squadron was under Earl of Sandwich - his flagship being the Royal Prince.

Ship Guns Commander Notes
Van Division
Forester 28 Captain Edward Cotterell
Royal Katherine 70 Rear-Admiral Thomas Teddeman
Essex 52 Captain Richard Utber
Marmaduke 38 Captain John Best
Princess 52 Captain George Swanley
Golden Phoenix 36 Captain Samuel Dickinson Hired merchantman
Adventure 36 Captain Benjamin Young
Society 36 Captain Ralph Lascelles Hired merchantman
Dreadnought 58 Captain Henry Terne
Prudent Mary 36 Captain Thomas Haward Hired merchantman
Centre Division
Dragon 38 Captain John Lloyd
Centurion 46 Captain Robert Moulton, Jr.
Montagu 58 Captain Henry Fenne
Oxford 24 Captain Philemon Bacon
Prince Royal 86 Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich
Flag-captain Roger Cuttance
Pembroke 28 Captain Thomas Darcy
Bryar 12 Captain Richard Cotton Fireship
Dunkirk 54 Captain John Hayward
Breda 46 Captain Robert Kirby Kirby killed in the battle
John & Thomas 44 Captain Henry Dawes Hired merchantman
Swallow 46 Captain Richard Hodges
Madras 42 Captain John Norbrook Hired merchantman
Rear Division
Jersey 48 Captain Hugh Hide
Hambro' Merchant 36 Captain James Cadman Hired merchantman
Hampshire 40 Captain George Batts
Castle frigate 36 Captain Philip Euatt Hired merchantman
Assistance 40 Captain Zachary Brown
Unicorn 56 Captain Henry Teddiman
Providence 30 Captain Richard James
York 58 Captain John Swanley
Henry 70 Vice-Admiral Sir George Ayscue
Guernsey 28 Captain Humphrey Connisby
Small craft
Nonsuch 8 Captain Robert Crossman Ketch
Thomas & Rebecca
Hopewell
John Smack
John Hoy
Two Sisters

Of the ships which had been on the 10 May fleet list but had been detached (excluding the five which rejoined during the battle), the merchantman Good Hope had been captured by the Dutch on 20 May, the Merlin was in the Thames, the Coventry and Lizard were at Portsmouth, the Little Mary at Plymouth, the Paradox at Scilly, the merchantman Maryland was in Harwich ("defective"), the Success in Lowestoft, the Speedwell at Newcastle, the Little Gift in Ireland and the Truelove in the Downs. Three more were engaged in scouting - the Paul, Hector and Blackamoor (a pink). None of these was larger than 5th Rate.[2]

Dutch fleet

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The Dutch fleet comprised 107 ships carrying 4,864 guns and 21,613 men.[3] Of these 107 ships, 81 were ships of the line from the five Dutch Admiralties, while 11 were hired merchantmen from the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostinische Compagnie), indicated by "VOC" in the lists below. There were also 9 frigates and 6 three-mast yachts. The Admiralty to which a ship belonged as indicated by a letter in parentheses preceding the name:

  • (A) Amsterdam Admiralty
  • (F) Friesland Admiralty
  • (M) Maas (or Rotterdam) Admiralty
  • (N) Noorderkwartier Admiralty
  • (Z) Zeeland Admiralty

No attempt can be made to indicate order of battle as the Dutch had not adopted the line-ahead system at this date, but the ships are indicated by squadron, within each of which the order of precedence is given, with the ships of the admiral, vice-admiral and rear-admiral listed first.

Squadron Command ships

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Squadron Squadron Commander Flagship Guns Ref
1st (Amsterdam) Lieutenant-Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam Eendracht 72 [4]
2nd (Zeeland) Lieutenant-Admiral Johan Evertsen Hof van Zeeland 58 [5]
3rd (Maas) Lieutenant-Admiral Egbert Bartholomeusz Kortenaer Groot Hollandia 68 [6]
4th (Friesland) Lieutenant-Admiral Auke Stellingwerf Zevenwolden 58
5th (Amsterdam) Vice-Admiral Cornelis Tromp Liefde 70 [7]
6th (Zeeland) Vice-Admiral Cornelis Evertsen the Elder Vlissingen 46 [8]
7th (Noorderkwartier) Vice-Admiral Volckert Schram Wapen van Nassau 60 [9]

The 1st (Amsterdam) Squadron

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Ship Guns Commander Notes
(M) Eendracht 72 Jacob van Wassenaer, Baron Obdam Sunk by magazine explosion
(A) Amsterdam 54 Vice-Adm Abraham van der Hulst
(A) Huis Tijdverdrijf 58 SbN (Rear-Adm) Albert Klaaszoon Graeff
(A) Huis te Kruiningen 58 Jacob Andrieszoon Swart
(A) Vrijheid 50 Jan van Amstel
(A) Landman 44 Hugo van Nieuwenhof
(A) Vrede 40 Hendrik Gotskens
(A) Stad Gouda 48 Otto van Treslong
(A) Dom van Utrecht 48 Jacob Willemszoon Broeder
(A) Harderwijk 46 Jacob Wiltschut
(A) Haarlem 46 Adam van Brederode
(A) Zeelandia 34 Balthazar van de Voorde
(A) Gouden Ster 36 Herman Egbertszoon Wolff
(A) Brack 18 Gerrit Polanen
VOC Maarseveen 78 Jan Jacobszoon de Reus Burnt by fireship

The 2nd (Zeeland) Squadron

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Ship Guns Captain Notes
(Z) Hof van Zeeland 58 Johan Evertsen
(M) Klein Hollandia 54 SbN (Rear-Admiral) Johan de Liefde
(Z) Utrecht 50 Cornelis Evertsen the Younger Burnt
(Z) Middleburg 46 Jacon Adriaanszoon Pens
(Z) Wapen van Zeeland[10] 36 Bastiaan Tuyneman
(Z) Delft[11] 34 Jan Banckert Captured by HMS Leopard & Breda[12]
(Z) Zeelandia 34 Simon Blok Captured by HMS Centurion[13]
(Z) Schakerloo[14] 29 Jan Krijnssen
(M) Prins Maurits 53 Marinus de Clercq
(M) Dordrecht 46 Jacob Cleydyck
(M) Wapen van Utrecht 36 Christiaan Eldertsen
(M) Delft[15] 36 Jacob van Boshuisen
(M) Schiedam 25 Adriaan Solderwagen
VOC Oranje 76 Bastiaan Senten Sunk
(M) Lapende Hert (yacht) 8 Pieter Wijnbergen
(Z) Dieshouk (yacht) 6 Jan Pieterszoon Tant

The 3rd (Maas) Squadron

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Ship Guns Captain Notes
(M) Groot Hollandia 68 Laurens Davidszoon van Convert
(A) Oosterwijk 68 Vice-Adm Dirck Schey
(A) Stavoren 48 Vice-Adm Nicolaas Marrevelt
(A) Hilversum 58 Albert Mathijszoon Captured by HMS Bristol[16]
(A) Zuiderhuis 50 Joost Verschuur
(A) Doesburg 48 Ysbrandt de Vries
(A) Vereenigte Provincien 48 Cornelis van Hogenhoeck
(A) Duivenvoorde 48 Hendrik van Tholl
(A) Wakende Boei 48 Anthony de Martre
(A) Ter Goes 46 Gebrant Boes Sunk by fireship
(A) Harderin 38 Lieuwe van Hasevelt
(A) Maagd van Enkhuizen 38 Johannes van der Mars
(A) Overijssel 36 Jan van Blankenburch
VOC Delfland 70 Jeuriaan Jeuriaanse Pod
VOC Sphera Mundi 41 Apolonia Poel

The 4th (Friesland) Squadron

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Ship Guns Captain Notes
(F) Zevenwolden 58 Lieut-Adm Auke Stellingwerf
(F) Groningen 40 Vice-Admiraal Rudolf Coenders
(F) Prinses Albertina 52 SbN (Rear-Adm) Hendrik Dirkszoon Bruynsveld
(F) Oostergo 68 Allart Piersen de Boer
(F) Elf Steden 54 Tjerk Hiddes de Vries
(F) Westergo 52 Jan Janszoon Vijselaar
(F) Omlandia 44 Cornelis Allartszoon Oostrum
(F) Klein Frisia 40 Wytse Beyma
(F) Postillon van Smirna 40 Barend Hiddes de Vries
(F) Hollandia 40 Joost Michielszoon
(A) Phesant 38 Jacob Pieteys
(A) Ijlst 36 Willem Codde van der Burgh
VOC Huis te Zwieten 70 Cornelis Crijnssen de Rechter
VOC Mars 50 Heyn Klaaszoon Kat Captured by HMS Assurance[17]
VOC Ruijter [18] 18 Jan de Vogel Captured [19]

The 5th (Amsterdam) Squadron

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Ship Guns Captain Notes
(A) Liefde[20] 70 Vice-Adm Cornelis Tromp
(A) Koevorden[21] 56 Gilles Thijssen Campen
(A) Kampen 48 Pieter Salomonszoon
(A) Luijpaard 58 Kommer Gerritszoon
(A) Stad en Lande 56 Jan de Haan
(A) Tromp 48 Adriaan van Rheede
(A) Huis te Jaarsveld 48 Thomas Fabritius
(A) Raadhuis van Haarlem 48 Jan Adelaar
(A) Groningen 48 Pieter Janszoon Uyttenhout
(A) Zon 48 Hendrik van Vollenhoven
(A) Wapen van Edam 38 Cornelis Gerritszoon Burger Captured[22]
(A) Schager Roos 38 Joosten Smient
(A) Asperen 36 Adriaan van Veen
(A) Vollenhoven 30 Hendrik Haeckroy
(A) Fortuin 14 Laurens Bruyn
(N) Prinses Roijaal 40 Adriaan Teding van Berkhout
VOC Nieuw Batavia 50 Jan Pieterszoon Onclaer

The 6th (Zeeland) Squadron

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Ship Guns Captain Notes
(Z) Vlissingen 46 Vice-Adm Cornelis Evertsen
(Z) Kampveere 46 SbN (Rear-Adm) Adriaan Banckert
(N) Drie Helden Davids[23] 50 Pieter Bronsaart
(Z) Dordrecht 46 Adriaan de Haaze
(Z) Zeeridder 34 Jan Willem Marinissen
(Z) Goes 30 Adriaan van Cruiningen
(Z) Zwanenburg[24] 30 Cornelis Kuiper Burnt by fireship
(Z) Visschers Harder 26 Jan Adriaanszoon Blankert
(Z) Westcappel 24 Marinus Loncke
(Z) Visscher 16 Simon Loncke
(M) Stad Utrecht 48 Jacob Oudart
(M) Rotterdam 45 Cryn Cerckhoven
(M) Vrede 40 Laurens van Heemskerck
(M) Gorinchem 36 Jacob van der Cam
(M) Briel 21 Frans van Nijdek
(M) Swol 20 Jacob Simonszoon de Witt
(Z) Zouteland (yacht) 4 Willem Hendrikszoon van der Veere
(M) Hazewinthont (yacht) 3 Andries Pietersen

The 7th (Noorderkwartier) Squadron

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Ship Guns Captain Notes
(N) Wapen van Nassau[25] 60 Dirk Gerritszoon Pomp
(N) Eendracht 44 SbN (Rear-Adm) Frederick Stachouwer
(N) Wapen van Medemblik 46 Adriaan Houttuin
(N) Gelderland 56 Cornelis Jaconszoon de Boer
(N) Hollandse Tuin 56 Beberen
(N) Jozua 50 Cornelis Slordt
(N) Westfriesland[26] 50 Jacob Bruynings
(N) Jupiter 44 Huysman
(N) Jonge Prins 36 Jan Halfhoorn Captured by HMS Martin Galley[27]
(N) Eenhoorn 30 Cornelis Victol
(N) Hoorn 30 Klaas Valchen
VOC Carolus Quintus 54 Joris Kuiten Captured by HMS Plymouth[28]
VOC Nagelboom 52 Boon Captured by HMS Colchester[29]
VOC Beurs van Amsterdam 52 Cornelis Muts
VOC Agatha 32 Gerrit Klaaszoon Posthoorn

Other Dutch ships

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Four ships were left behind in the Texel when the fleet sailed on 23/24 May, due to shortage of men. These were the Amsterdam Admiralty's Zuiphen (36), Groot Harder (38), Leiden (36) and Kat (21).

References

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  1. ^ Frank Fox, The Four Days' Battle of 1666, p.317
  2. ^ Frank Fox, The Four Days' Battle of 1666, p.321-322.
  3. ^ "Battle of Lowestoft, 3rd June 1665".
  4. ^ "Dutch Third Rate ship of the line 'Eendracht' (1653)".
  5. ^ "Dutch Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Hof van Zeeland' (1653)".
  6. ^ "Dutch Third Rate ship of the line 'Groot Hollandia' (1654)".
  7. ^ "Dutch Second Rate ship of the line 'Liefde' (1661)".
  8. ^ "Dutch Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Vlissingen' (1653)".
  9. ^ "Dutch Third Rate ship of the line 'Wapen van Nassau' (1654)".
  10. ^ "Dutch Sixth Rate ship of the line 'Zeelandia' (1652)".
  11. ^ "Dutch Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Delft' (1658)".
  12. ^ became HMS Delft
  13. ^ became HMS Zealand
  14. ^ "Dutch Fifth Rate ship 'Schakerloo' (1661)".
  15. ^ "Dutch Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Delft' (1664)".
  16. ^ became HMS Helverston
  17. ^ became HMS Mars
  18. ^ "Battle of Lowestoft, 3rd June 1665".
  19. ^ became HMS Horseman; sunk 1667 as blockship in the Thames.
  20. ^ "Dutch Second Rate ship of the line 'Liefde' (1661)".
  21. ^ "Dutch Third Rate ship of the line 'Koevorden' (1655)".
  22. ^ became English Black Bull; recaptured at the Four Days' Battle in 1666.
  23. ^ "Dutch Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Drie Helden Davids' (1654)".
  24. ^ "Battle of Lowestoft, 3rd June 1665".
  25. ^ "Dirk Gerritszoon Pomp".
  26. ^ "Dutch Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Westfriesland' (1661)".
  27. ^ became English Young Prince; expended as fireship at the Four Days' Battle in 1666.
  28. ^ became English Charles V; recaptured at the Four Days' Battle in 1666.
  29. ^ became English Clove Tree; recaptured at the Four Days' Battle in 1666.
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