HMS Swan (1641)

HMS "Swan" was a 200 ton warship of the English Royal Navy, launched in 1641. She was the last ship to be built for Charles I. She carried a number of iron cannon, which were cast by John Browne.

Capture

In 1645, whilst anchored at Dublin, and with "Swan's" captain absent from the ship, the disgruntled crew were persuaded by the captain of a Parliamentary frigate to change sides upon promise of payment of wages regularly. Thus the ship became part of the Cromwellian fleet.History Scotland Magazine.] BBC History - Wreck Detectives.]

inking

In September 1653, a Cromwellian task force anchored off Duart Castle, a staunch Royalist stronghold of the Maclean's, who had already fled to Tiree. On 13 September 1653, a storm blew up from the north west, which resulted in two commandeered merchantmen, the "Martha and Margaret" of Ipswich and the "Speedwell" of Kings Lynn being sunk, along with "Swan". The wreck of HMS "Swan" was discovered in 1979.

Cannon

In 2003, one of the cannons from the ship was recovered. It turned out to be an iron 'Drake' cast by John Browne, and is believed to be the only survivor of this type of cannon. It has a mass of 3 cwt 2 qtrs 23 lb or convert|415|lb|kg|1|abbr=on|lk=on and had a 3½" (89mm) muzzle and fired shot weighing convert|4|lb|kg|2. Another ship of the era, HMS|Sovereign of the Seas, had bronze cannons that were also cast by Browne.Cyber Diver News Network.]

Television programme

The story of the ship was featured in Channel 4's programme "Wreck Detectives". Channel 4, Wreck Detectives.]

Notes

References

*Martin, Colin. [http://www.historyscotland.com/features/resurrectingtheswan.html Resurrecting the Swan: Archaeology of a Cromwellian Shipwreck, 1653.] History Scotland Magazine. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/archaeology/excavations_techniques/marine_wreck_05.shtml Wreck Detectives.] BBC History. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
*Monroe, Luther. [http://www.cdnn.info/industry/i030123/i030123.html Archaeologists recover rare cannon from 'Swan' wreck.] Cyber Diver News Network. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
* [http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/W/wreck_detectives_2003/the_wrecks/the_swan/ Wreck Detectives - The wrecks - The Swan.] Channel 4. Retrieved 31 December 2007.

External links

* [http://www.duartnews.com/duartnews.cannon.htm Photo] of the retrieved cannon
* [http://www.divernet.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?id=3835&sc=1039&ac=d Swan song] Article on diving on the swan, and interpreting the finds.