HMS Drake was a member of the standardized 20-gun sixth rates built at the end of the 17th century. After commissioning she was lost within three months on the Irish Coast in a storm on 20 December 1694.[1]
| History | |
|---|---|
 England | |
| Name | HMS Drake |
| Ordered | 2 May 1694 |
| Builder | George Fowler, Rotherhithe |
| Launched | 26 September 1694 |
| Commissioned | 26 September 1694 |
| Fate | Lost with all hands on 20 December 1694 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | 20-gun Sixth Rate |
| Tons burthen | 253+6⁄94 bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 24 ft 9 in (7.5 m) for tonnage |
| Depth of hold | 10 ft 8 in (3.3 m) |
| Armament |
|
Drake was the second named vessel since it was used for a 16-gun vessel launched at Deptford in 1653 and sold at Jamaica in 1691.[2]
Construction edit
She was ordered in the Second Batch of eight ships to be built under contract from George Fowler of Rotherhithe. She was launched on 26 September 1694.[3]
Commissioned service edit
She was commissioned on 26 September 1694 under the command of Captain John Stapleton, RN.[4]
Loss edit
HMS Drake was wrecked with the loss of all hands on the Irish Coast in a storm on 20 December 1694.[5]
Citations edit
References edit
- Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2009, EPUB ISBN 9781783469246, Chapter 6, The Sixth Rates, Vessels acquired from 18 December 1688, Sixth Rates of 20 guns and up to 26 guns, Maidstone Group, Drake
- Colledge, 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, © 2020, e ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7 (EPUB), Section D (Drake)