HMS Royal James (1671)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Royal James.
The Burning of the Royal James at the Battle of Solebay, 7 June 1672 by Willem van de Velde the younger. De Ruyter's flagship De Zeven Provinciën is shown in the left background in close combat with the Vice-Admiral of the Blue, Sir Joseph Jordan on Royal Sovereign. The ship to the right of the burning Royal James is that of Vice-Admiral Johan de Liefde.
Career (England)
Name: HMS Royal James
Ordered: 22 April 1669
Builder: Deane, Portsmouth Dockyard
Launched: 31 March 1671
Commissioned: 18 January 1672
Honours and
awards:

Participated in:

Fate: Burnt, 7 June 1672
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:100-gun first rate ship of the line
Tons burthen:1416 tons (1438.7 tonnes)
Length:132 ft 6 in (40.39 m) (keel)
Beam:45 ft (14 m)
Draught:18 ft 5 in (5.61 m)
Depth of hold:19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)
Propulsion:Sails
Sail plan:Full rigged ship
Complement:800 (wartime)
Armament:102 guns of various weights of shot

HMS Royal James was a 102-gun first rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy, built by Sir Anthony Deane at Portsmouth Dockyard at a cost of £24,000, and launched on 31 March 1671.[1]

She was one of only three Royal Navy ships to be equipped with the Rupertinoe naval gun.[2] She fought at the Battle of Solebay on 7 June 1672 (28 May 1672 O.S.) as Admiral Edward Montagu's flagship. She was attacked by first Dolfijn, and then Groot Hollandia, before finally coming under attack by Dutch fireships. Royal James was destroyed by the fire and sank. Montagu died, although the ship's Captain, Richard Haddock, survived and went on to hold a distinguished career in the Navy. She had seen barely four months service.

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p161.
  2. Spencer, p.351; Endsor, p.9.

References

  • Endsor, Richard. (2009) Restoration Warship: The Design, Construction and Career of a Third Rate of Charles II's Navy. London: Anova Books.
  • Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
  • Spencer, Charles. (2007) Prince Rupert: The Last Cavalier. London: Phoenix. ISBN 978-0-297-84610-9