English ship Sapphire (1651)
| History | |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth of England | |
| Name | Sapphire | 
| Builder | Peter Pett I, Ratcliffe | 
| Launched | 1651 | 
| Commissioned | 1651 | 
| Honours & awards  | 
  | 
| England | |
| Name | Sapphire | 
| Acquired | May 1660 | 
| Fate | Run ashore to evade capture on 31 March 1670 | 
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | 38-gun Fourth-rate | 
| Tons burthen | 442+20⁄94 tons bm | 
| Length | 100 ft 0 in (30.5 m) keel for tonnage | 
| Beam | 28 ft 10 in (8.8 m) | 
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 5 in (4.4 m) | 
| Sail plan | ship-rigged | 
| Complement | 
  | 
| Armament | 
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Sapphire was a 38-gun fourth-rate of the Commonwealth of England. After commissioning she was actively involved in the First Anglo-Dutch War, participating in most major fleet actions. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War, she was only in the first two engagements then spent her time in Irish Waters and the Mediterranean. She was run ashore due to a pending attack by suspected Algerian pirates on Sicily in March 1670.
Sapphire was the first named vessel in the English and Royal Navy.