English ship Sussex (1652)

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

History
England
Name	Sussex
Ordered	27 February 1652
Launched	November 1652
Fate	Accidentally blown up, 9 December 1653
General characteristics
Class and type	Fourth-rate frigate
Tons burthen	c.600
Length	110 ft (34 m) (keel, estimated)
Beam	32 ft (9.8 m) (estimated)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	180 (1653)
Armament	46 guns (1653)

The Sussex was a fourth-rate frigate, built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at one of the national Dockyards, and launched in late 1652. Her place of building is uncertain, with certain sources recording this as Portsmouth (by John Tippetts), others as Deptford and still others as Woolwich (by Christopher Pett). A standard practice at this time was to build the hull in one location and masts and superstucture could be at a separate dock, and the fitting of equipment (cannon etc) at a third location.

She was commissioned under Captain Roger Cuttance, and fitted out on the Thames. By 1653, her armament is recorded as consisting of 46 guns.

The Sussex took part in the Battle of Portland in February 1653, and in the Battle of the Gabbard in June 1653, but was accidentally blown up at Portsmouth on 9 December 1653.

References

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