HMS Dreadnought (1660)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Dreadnought.

History
England
Name	Torrington
Ordered	December 1652
Builder	Henry Johnson, Blackwall Yard
Launched	early 1654
Renamed	Dreadnought, 1660
Fate	Foundered October 1690
General characteristics
Class and type	Speaker-class frigate
Tons burthen	73438⁄94 (bm)
Length	116 ft 8 in (35.6 m) (keel)
Beam	34 ft 6 in (10.5 m)
Depth of hold	14 ft 2 in (4.3 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	52 guns (at launch); 62 guns (1677)

HMS Dreadnought was a 52-gun third-rate ship of the line, in service with the Royal Navy from 1660 to 1690.

The ship was originally launched in 1654 under the name Torrington for the navy of the Commonwealth of England. Her builder was shipwright Henry Johnson at Blackwall Yard, London. She was named for the Parliamentarian victory at the Battle of Torrington in 1646.

She was renamed Dreadnought after the Restoration in 1660. By 1677 her armament had been increased to 62 guns.

After an active career in both the Second Dutch War and Third Dutch War, Dreadnought foundered at sea in October 1690.

References

• 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.
• Winfield, Rif (2009) British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603-1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6.