The Spectre of War: operations and developments, c.1572–1585

Abstract

The daunting array of threats to England’s national security which emerged in the late 1560s prompted important changes to the realm’s defences in the early 1570s. Most immediately, a new programme of warship construction was initiated. The Foresight was launched in 1570, the Dreadnought, Swiftsure, Achates and Handmaid in 1573 and the Revenge and Scout in 1576–77. The old Bull and Tiger (both originally built in 1546) were also extensively rebuilt in 1570. In comparison with the major warships built at the start of Elizabeth’s reign, the new vessels were notably smaller and better suited to escort duties in European waters. Whereas the Triumph (1562) was rated at 1000 tons and the Elizabeth Jonas (1559) and Victory (1562) at 800 tons, even the largest of the new ships — Dreadnought, Swiftsure and Revenge — were rated at only 400–500 tons.