GOLDEN HIND

Golden Hind (pl. Złota Łania) was an English galleon from the 16th and 17th centuries. The unit was launched and probably entered service in 1576 or 1577. It was about 30-32 meters long and 6.2 meters wide and was able to swim at a maximum speed of 8 knots. The crew consisted of 80-90 people, and the ship was armed with 22 guns. Golden Hind entered service under the name of Pelican, but its name was changed very quickly. The vessel was built with the funds of Elizabeth I of Tudor, often and rightly called the Great. The ship went down in history because it was the flagship of Sir Francis Drake during his voyage around the world in 1577-1580. Five units took part in the expedition, but only Golden Hind returned to England safe. It is worth adding that this expedition was the second circumnavigation of the globe in history, after the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan. It was also thanks to this expedition that Francis Drake was awarded the title of nobility. From 1580, the vessel was moored at Deptford in memory of this famous event. However, not subjected to appropriate renovation and maintenance, it fell into disrepair in 1661. There are currently two full-size replicas of this ship.