HMS Speedwell was a versatile vessel with a complex service history, originating from the 1689 Programme as a fireship built under contract by Thomas Gressingham of Rotherhithe. Launched on 3 April 1690, she initially measured approximately 94 feet in length on the gun deck, with a beam of nearly 25 feet and a hold depth of about 9 feet 8 inches. Her original armament comprised eight 6-pounder guns mounted on wooden trucks. The vessel was constructed with a keel length of 78 feet 6 inches and was designed to serve in various capacities within the Royal Navy. Throughout her career, HMS Speedwell was frequently rebuilt and rerated, reflecting her adaptability and the evolving naval needs of the period. Her first rebuild occurred around 1701–1702, when she was reconstructed at Limehouse, extending her length slightly and maintaining her armament at eight guns. After her rebuild, her dimensions included a gun deck length of about 94 feet 9 inches, with a beam of 25 feet 4 inches. During this period, her armament was increased to include two 9-pounders on the lower deck and eighteen 6-pounders on the upper deck, with a crew complement of approximately 115 officers and men. Her service included participation in notable events such as the Battle of Barfleur in 1692, where she was part of the Blue Squadron. She also engaged in various convoy duties and privateer captures along the Irish Sea, recapturing vessels like the sloop Wolf and capturing privateers including L'Adventure, La Bonne-Francoise, La Marie-Therese, and La Mignonne. In 1701–1702, she underwent another rebuild at Limehouse, this time as a sixth-rate vessel with a reduced armament of twenty 6-pounder guns, and a lengthened gun deck of approximately 95 feet. In 1716, she was rebuilt again at Deptford Dockyard as a sixth-rate, with her armament reduced further but her dimensions slightly increased, including a beam of 25 feet 6.5 inches. She was employed in the Mediterranean and off the coast of Morocco before returning to home waters. In 1719, HMS Speedwell was converted into a bomb vessel, and in 1720, she served in the Baltic under Captain Joseph Watts. Her maritime career ended when she was wrecked on the Dutch coast in November 1720. Her varied service record and multiple rebuildings exemplify her importance as a flexible and resilient vessel in early 18th-century Royal Navy operations.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.