Hercules-class ship of the line

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Ship of 74-gun model 1760.jpg
Model of a 74-gun ship, 3rd rate, circa 1760. Thought to be either HMS Hercules or HMS Thunderer from 1760.
Class overview
NameHercules
OperatorsNaval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg  Royal Navy
Preceded by Dublinclass
Succeeded by Valiantclass
In service15 March 1759 - 1784
Completed2
Lost1
General characteristics
Type Ship of the line
Length
  • 166 ft 6 in (50.75 m) (gundeck)
  • 136 ft 0 in (41.45 m) (keel)
Beam46 ft 6 in (14.17 m)
PropulsionSails
Armament
  • 74 guns:
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounders
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18-pounders
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 9-pounders
  • Forecastle: 4 × 9-pounders
NotesShips in class include: Hercules, Thunderer

The Hercules class ships of the line were a class of two 74-gun third rates, designed for the Royal Navy by Sir Thomas Slade.

Contents

Design

The Hercules class ships were a development on Slade's previous two designs: the Dublin-class, and the subsequent one-off HMS Hero.

Ships

Builder: Deptford Dockyard
Ordered: 15 July 1756
Launched: 15 March 1759
Fate: Sold out of the service, 1784
Builder: Woolwich Dockyard
Ordered: 15 July 1756
Launched: 19 March 1760
Fate: Wrecked, 1780

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