English ship Wakefield (1656)

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

Wakefield was a fifth-rate warship of the Commonwealth of England's naval forces, one of six such ships ordered on 28 December 1654, all 6 built in the state dockyards (the others were Pembroke, Dartmouth, Norwich, Cheriton, and Oxford). She was built by Master Shipwright John Tippetts at Portsmouth Dockyard, and was launched in November 1656 as a 22-gun Fifth rate. She was named Wakefield to commemorate the Roundhead capture of that town by Thomas Fairfax in 1643.

History
England[1]
Name	Wakefield
Namesake	Battle of Wakefield, 1643
Operator	Navy of the Commonwealth of England  Royal Navy (from 1660)
Ordered	28 December 1654
Builder	John Tippetts, Portsmouth Dockyard
Launched	November 1656
Commissioned	1656
Renamed	HMS Richmond (in 1660)
Fate	Sold in 1698 to take to pieces
General characteristics as built 1656
Type	20-gun fifth rate
Tons burthen	23280⁄94 bm
Length	89 ft 11 in (27.4 m) gundeck, 76 ft 0 in (23.2 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	24 ft 0 in (7.3 m) for tonnage
Draught	11 ft 6 in (3.5 m)
Depth of hold	9 ft 9 in (3.0 m)
Sail plan	ship-rigged
Complement	100 in 1660 and 1666, 130 by 1673
Armament	As built 1655 16 x demi-culverins (UD) 4 x sakers (QD)

Her length was recorded as 89 feet 11 inches (27.4 metres) on the gundeck and 76 feet 0 inches (23.2 metres) on the keel for tonnage calculation. The breadth was 24 feet 0 inches (7.3 metres) with a depth in hold of 9 ft 9 in (3.0 m). The tonnage was thus calculated at 23280⁄94 bm tons.^[1]

She was originally armed with 22 guns, probably comprising 16 demi-culverins on the single gundeck and 6 sakers on the quarterdeck. At the Restoration in 1660 she was taken into the Royal Navy and renamed as HMS Richmond. By 1665 she actually carried 24 guns, comprising the 16 demi-culverins on the gundeck, and now with 8 sakers on the quarterdeck. The Richmond served throughout the Second Anglo-Dutch War and the Third Anglo-Dutch War, but did not take part in any major battle. She was converted to a fireship in August 1677, and was finally sold on 30 August 1687 to be taken to pieces.^[1]

Notes