Frigate

A three-masted war vessel with a single, continuous gun deck. It was a lighter vessel than a ship of the line, with great maneuvering capacity, which became widely used as a warship in the 18thand 19th centuries. Well-armed, frigates could fight against galleons and ships of the line, carrying between 24 and 36 cannons.

After proving their effectiveness in the Battle of the Dunes between Spain and the Netherlands in 1639, frigates were adopted by the navies of many nations, even for long ocean crossings.

Image: Rafael Monleón y Torres, National Library of Spain

In our database

• Nuevo Constante (1766)

  Frigate which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Cadiz (ESP). She sunk in Texas in 1766 due to a hurricane. This ship captained by Julian Antonio Urcullu carried gold bullion, silver ingots, riches, quicksilver, wine, brandy and spirits and nails.

• San Cayetano (1738)

  Frigate which sunk in Florida in 1738.

• Nuestra Señora del Rosario (1783)

  Frigate which departed Veracruz (MEX) bound for Pensacola (FLA). She sunk in Florida in 1783 due to a hurricane. She carried mexican ceramics and spanish ceramics.

• San Pedro (1750)

  Frigate which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Spain. She sunk in North Carolina in 1750 due to a hurricane. Captained by John Kelly.

• Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (1750)

  Frigate which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Spain. She sunk in North Carolina in 1750 due to a hurricane. This ship captained by Manuel Molbudro, José de Respaldizar (propietario) carried riches.

• Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, aka La Galga Andaluza (1750)

  Frigate which departed Havana (CUB) bound for Spain. She sunk in Virginia in 1750 due to a hurricane. Captained by Daniel Houny.

• Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, aka Juno (1802)

  Frigate which departed Veracruz (MEX) bound for Spain. She sunk in Virginia in 1802 due to a hurricane. This ship captained by Juan Ignacio Bustillo carried riches and silver ingots.