HMS Colossus (1803)

Hull plan for Colossus and Warspite
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Colossus
Ordered13 January 1798
BuilderDeptford Dockyard
Laid downMay 1799
Launched23 April 1803
Honours and
awards
FateBroken up, 1826
General characteristics [1]
Class and type74-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen18884794 (bm)
Length180 ft (55 m) (gundeck)
Beam48 ft 10 in (14.88 m)
Depth of hold21 ft (6.4 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 74 guns:
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 30 × 24 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 12 × 9 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs

HMS Colossus was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched from Deptford Dockyard on 23 April 1803. She was designed by Sir John Henslow as one of the large class 74s, and was the name ship of her class, the other being Warspite.[2] As a large 74, she carried 24 pdrs on her upper gun deck, as opposed to the 18 pdrs found on the middling and common class 74s. She took part in the Battle of Trafalgar, and was broken up in 1826.[1][3]

  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol. 1, p. 184.
  2. ^ Winfield (2004) p.40
  3. ^ Ships of the Old Navy, Colossus.