HMS Fairfax (1660)
| History | |
|---|---|
 England
|
|
| Name: | Fairfax |
| Builder: | John Taylor, Chatham |
| Laid down: | March 1653 |
| Launched: | September 1653 |
| Commissioned: | September 1653 |
| In service: | 1653-1660 |
| Struck: | 1660 |
 England
|
|
| Name: | HMS Fairfax |
| Acquired: | 1660 |
| Commissioned: | 1660 |
| In service: | 1660-1674 |
| Honours and awards: |
|
| Fate: | Broken up, 1674. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Speaker-class frigate |
| Tons burthen: | 789 35⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: | 118 ft (36.0 m) (keel) |
| Beam: | 34 ft 9 in (10.6 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 14 ft 4 in (4.4 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Armament: |
|
Fairfax was a third rate frigate of the navy of the Commonwealth of England from 1653 to 1660. With the restoration of the English monarchy in 1660 she was recommissioned as HMS Fairfax and served with the Royal Navy until 1674.
Fairfax was constructed between March and September 1653 by shipwright John Taylor of Chatham, at a total cost of £7065. She was a replacement for the Fairfax of 1650, which had burnt to the waterline in 1652. The unburnt portion of this earlier vessel was retained and built upon to construct the new ship.
As built, Fairfax was 120 ft 0 in (36.58 m) along her keel with a beam of 35 ft 2 in (10.72 m) and a hold depth of 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m). She was a large vessel, measuring 789 35⁄94 tonnes burthen with a draft of 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m). Her crew complement at launch was not recorded. However at the time of her transfer to the Royal Navy in 1660 she carried 220 men, rising to 300 in 1666 and 400 in 1672.
From 1660 Fairfax carried 52 guns. In 1666 this was increased to 66, comprising twenty-two demi-cannons, four culverins, twenty-six 12-pounders and fourteen 5 1⁄4-pounder sakers. A further substantial increase in armament occurred in 1672, with the replacement of the unwieldy demi-cannons and an increase in total weaponry to 72 guns. Her lower deck was fitted with twenty-six iron-cast 24-pounders, supported by twenty-four 12-pounders on the upper deck. Fourteen brass sakers were placed along the quarterdeck with another four in the forecastle. Two additional sakers and two 12-pounder cannons, were located in the captain's cabin running the length of the stern.
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