1649 Programme Group

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The 1649 Programme was a plan to build five new warships for the English Commonwealth’s Navy (later the Royal Navy). It was approved on 25 March 1649, soon after King Charles I was executed and the republic began. Three of the ships were ordered as 4th-rate frigates in late March, though Worcester was later delayed and changed to a 3rd-rate. On 12 April, two larger 3rd-rate ships were ordered to serve as flagships for the Winter Guard: Speaker and Fairfax. The ships varied in size and number of guns, and exact measurements aren’t available for all of them. They followed earlier programmes from 1645 (three ships) and 1647 (four ships).

Construction was handled by the state dockyards, with each ship designed and built under the supervision of the Master Shipwright at its yard. Only launch years are known for the vessels, and their armament varied by ship.

By 1660 four of the five ships had been rebuilt. The Portsmouth and President were each equipped with 38 guns and about 130 men, Worcester with 48 guns and about 230 men, and Speaker with 50 guns and about 220 men. The ships served from around 1650 to 1711.