Ruby Group

The Ruby Group of two 600 ton Fourth Rate vessels were part of the 1651 Programme. They were the two larger vessels. Initially five vessels were specified, three of 410 tons at 6.10.0d^{[Note 1]} per ton and two of 600 tons at £7.10.0d^{[Note 2]} per ton. The size of these vessels grew from the 1647 predecessors with 600 tonners being much broader. The two 600-ton vessels would be completed as 42-gun Fourth Rates.^[1]

Class overview
Name	Ruby Group
Builders	Deptford Dockyard
Operators	Kingdom of England  Royal Navy
Preceded by	1651 Programme Group
Succeeded by	Early 1652 Programme
Built	1651–1652
In service	1651–1709
Completed	2
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	42-gun Fourth Rate
Tons burthen	500+0⁄94 tons bm
Sail plan	ship-rigged
Complement	180/150 in 1652
Armament	42 guns

Design and specifications

The construction one vessels was assigned to Portsmouth Dockyard with one vessel contracted to Peter Pett I of Ratcliffe. The dimensional data was so varied that it will be listed on the individual vessels along with their gun armament composition.^[2]

Ships of the 1651 Programme Group

Name	Builder	Launch date	Remarks
Ruby (1652)	Deptford Dockyard	15 March 1652	Rebuilt at Blackwall 1687
Diamond (1652)	Deptford Dockyard	15 March 1652	Captured by the French on 20 September 1693

Notes

1. The cost accounting for inflation of approximately £1,100 in reference to today
2. The cost accounting for inflation of approximately £1,200 in reference to today