English ship Expedition (1637)

History
English Navy Royal
NameExpedition
Ordered12 December 1636
BuilderMatthew Graves, Bermondsey
Launched20 March 1637
Commissioned1638
Commonwealth of England
NameExpedition
AcquiredMay 1649
Honours &
awards
  • Portland
  • Gabbard 1653
  • Scheveningen 1653
Kingdom of England
NameExpedition
AcquiredMay 1660
Honours &
awards
  • Lowestoffe 1665
  • Four Days' Fight 1666
  • Orfordness 1666
FateSold October 1667
General characteristics
Class & type
  • "Pinnace" (i.e. frigate)
  • Fourth Rate – 1651
Tons burthen357 6294 tons bm
Length90 ft 1 in (27.5 m) keel
Beam27 ft 4 in (8.3 m)
Depth of hold11 ft 0 in (3.4 m)
PropulsionSail
Sail planship-rigged
Complement
  • 120 (1652)
  • 140 (1653)
Armament
  • 30 guns as built
  • 1666 establishment
  • 7 × culverins (LD)
  • 13 × demi-culverins (LD)
  • 6 × 6-pdrs (UD)
  • 10 × sakers (UD)
  • 2 × 3-pdrs

The Expedition was a 30-gun "pinnace" (later defined as an early frigate) in the service of the English Navy Royal. After an initial participation in a punitive attack on Morocco, she spent the majority of her career in Home Waters. During the English Civil War she was employed in the Parliamentary Naval Force. In 1551 she was assigned to the Commonwealth Navy. During the First Dutch War she took part in the Battle of Portland, the Battle of the Gabbard and the Battle of Scheveningen in 1553. During the Second Dutch War she participated in the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665 and the Four Days' Battle and the St James' Day Battle (Orfordness) in 1666. She was re-classed as a 32-gun ship in 1666, but then again re-rated and converted to a fireship in June 1667, and then sold in October 1667.

Expedition was the second vessel to be given that name in the English Navy Royal, since it had been used for a 20-gun French ship captured in 1618 which remained listed until 1652.