The Ruby Group of two 600 ton Fourth Rate vessels were part of the 1651 Programme. They were the two larger vessels. Initially five vessels were specified, three of 410 tons at 6.10.0d[Note 1] per ton and two of 600 tons at £7.10.0d[Note 2] per ton. The size of these vessels grew from the 1647 predecessors with 600 tonners being much broader. The two 600-ton vessels would be completed as 42-gun Fourth Rates.[1]
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ruby Group |
| Builders | Deptford Dockyard |
| Operators |
|
| Preceded by | 1651 Programme Group |
| Succeeded by | Early 1652 Programme |
| Built | 1651–1652 |
| In service | 1651–1709 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Retired | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | 42-gun Fourth Rate |
| Tons burthen | 500+0⁄94 tons bm |
| Sail plan | ship-rigged |
| Complement | 180/150 in 1652 |
| Armament | 42 guns |
Design and specifications
editThe construction one vessels was assigned to Portsmouth Dockyard with one vessel contracted to Peter Pett I of Ratcliffe. The dimensional data was so varied that it will be listed on the individual vessels along with their gun armament composition.[2]
Ships of the 1651 Programme Group
edit| Name | Builder | Launch date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby (1652) | Deptford Dockyard | 15 March 1652 |
|
| Diamond (1652) | Deptford Dockyard | 15 March 1652 |
|
Notes
editCitations
editReferences
edit- British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © Rif Winfield 2009, EPUB ISBN 978-1-78346-924-6, Chapter 4, The Fourth Rates - 'Small Ships', Vessels acquired from 24 March 1603, Ruby Group
- Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt-Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © the estate of J.J. Colledge, Ben Warlow and Steve Bush 2020, EPUB ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7